formerly

adverb

1
: at an earlier time : previously
2
obsolete : just before

Examples of formerly in a Sentence

He was formerly a congressman. the newspaper formerly known as “The Newsprint”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some support is also coming from an Securities and Exchange filing showing Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, bought 7,633 bitcoin between Feb. 3 and Feb. 9, spending $742.4 million at an average price of $97,255 per bitcoin. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 Additionally, viewers will be able to stream the event via Discovery+ and Max (formerly HBO Max). Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune PUBLISHED: February 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM PST Trump's executive order permits federal agents to arrest undocumented immigrants in formerly off-limit spaces such as churches and schools Subscribe to continue reading this article. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025 And come May, Nobu, a high-end Japanese restaurant founded by renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, will open in the beachfront space formerly occupied by Sheerwater. Lori Weisberg, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for formerly 

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of formerly was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near formerly

Cite this Entry

“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formerly. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

formerly

adverb
: at an earlier time : previously

More from Merriam-Webster on formerly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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