Synonyms for former
ˈfɔr mərfor·mer

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.0 / 3 votes

1. formeradjective

   Antonyms:
   latter

2. formeradjective

   previous

   Dave was the former of the company.

   Synonyms:
   quondam, erstwhile, anterior, ex-, previous, prior

   Antonyms:
   latter

3. formeradjective

   first of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

   The former is a good idea but the latter is not.

   Synonyms:
   anterior, erstwhile, ex-, quondam, previous, prior

   Antonyms:
   latter

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. former

   The efficient cause, that which makes anything to be or be done, is the common meaning of the word, as in the saying "There is no effect without a cause." Every man instinctively recognizes himself acting through will as the cause of his own actions. The Creator is the Great First Cause of all things. A condition is something that necessarily precedes a result, but does not produce it. An antecedent simply precedes a result, with or without any agency in producing it; as, Monday is the invariable antecedent of Tuesday, but not the cause of it. The direct antonym of cause is effect, while that of antecedent is consequent. An occasion is some event which brings a cause into action at a particular moment; gravitation and heat are the causes of an avalanche; the steep incline of the mountain-side is a necessary condition, and the shout of the traveler may be the occasion of its fall. Causality is the doctrine or principle of causes, causation the action or working of causes. Compare DESIGN; REASON.

   Synonyms:
   actor, agent, antecedent, author, causality, causation, cause, condition, creator, designer, fountain, motive, occasion, origin, originator, power, precedent, reason, reason, source, spring

   Antonyms:
   consequence, creation, development, effect, end, end, event, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result

   Preposition:
   The cause of the disaster; cause for interference.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. former

   Synonyms:
   preceding, antecedent, previous, prior, earlier, ancient, bygone, anterior, first-mentioned, foregoing

   Antonyms:
   succeeding, subsequent, posterior, latter, modern, coming, future

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   the first of two or the first mentioned of two

   "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

2. former(a)adjective

   referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

   "the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one"

   Antonyms:
   latter, future, present(a)

3. erstwhile(a), former(a), old, onetime(a), one-time(a), quondam(a), sometime(a)adjective

   belonging to some prior time

   "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

4. former(a), late(a), previous(a)adjective

   (used especially of persons) of the immediate past

   "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"

   Antonyms:
   latter, future, present(a)

5. early(a), former(a), other(a)adjective

   belonging to the distant past

   "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   maker, framer, author, creator, constructor

2. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   previous, prior, anterior, antecedent, preceding, foregoing

3. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   quondam, ci-devant, late, old-time

4. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   past, gone by

5. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   first named, first mentioned

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   antecedent, preceding, previous, prior, foregoing, bygone, quondam, ci-devant

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "former":

   ex, old, previous, ancient, antigua, ago, earlier, prior, past, before, preceding, formerly, elders, predecessor, exs, first, ancien, ex-girlfriend, ex-, ex-boyfriend, anciens, ex-president, erstwhile, alumni, outgoing, f.d., ousted, ancienne, ex-wife, long-standing, legacy, previously, last, elder, ex-combatants, antique

Suggested Resources

1. Former

   Former vs. Latter -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Former and Latter.

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How to use former in a sentence?

1. Samuel Roccaforte:

   He said 'This is Joe Biden,' and then, as if he had to clarify, said 'this is former Vice President Joe Biden,' and I said, 'Wow, I was not expecting that, sir.'.

2. The DC Circuit:

   Under any of the tests advocated by former President Trump The, the profound interests in disclosure advanced by President Joe Biden and the January 6th House Select Committee far exceed Trump The generalized concerns for Executive Branch confidentiality.

3. Kennedy Ogba:

   Ruthless Killers strike with Weapons and Pretentious Friends kill with Kisses. It's easy to avoid the former, but not so the later

4. Mohan Samaranayake:

   When U.S. State Secretary John Kerry spoke to Rajapaksa over the phone, the former president assured him there will be a smooth power transition as stipulated in the constitution.

5. Donald Trump:

   The fact that they are sending criminals and prisoners into our country and there are people stupid enough to put them in jails or let them roam the street, which is even worse, I have to respect (Mexico) for it, i don't know it you know, (former Cuban leader Fidel) Castro, many years ago, opened up his prisons and sent his prisoners to the United States.