formerly

Meaning

  1. (not-comparable) at some time in the past
  2. (not-comparable) previously; once

Synonyms

previously
B2
before
A1

in the past

once
A1
ahead
A1
past
A1
long ago
earlier
B1
ago
A1
at first
former
B1

in former times

originally
C1

in ancient times

erst

beforehand
C2
ever
A1

from the beginning

erstwhile
at one time
last time
first
A1
1st
sometime
B2

in the old days

of old
used to

a long time ago

anciently
at times
beginning
A2
in advance
occasionally
C1
once upon a time

some time ago

sometimes
A1
aforetime

long time ago

the time before

previous to this

late
A1
ere
C2
never
A1

former years

early
A2
of yore
customarily

a few years ago

on one occasion

at the outset

at the beginning

Translations

früher
autrefois
antes
ehemals
auparavant
anciennement
jadis
einst
indertijd
vroeger
anteriormente
ante
un tempo

antehac

Frequency

C2
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈfɔɹmɚli/
Etymology

From former + -ly.

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English