1
former + noun (position/role)
表示过去担任某职位的人。
She is a former president of the company.
她是公司的前任总裁。
以前的；原先的；前任的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
以前的；原先的；前任的
Existing or occurring before in time; previous.
She is a former president of the company.
她是公司的前任总裁。
以前的
Previous.
前者
First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.
前者
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
以前的
belonging to some prior time
The former president gave a speech at the university.
前任总统在那所大学发表了一篇演讲。
AI contextual example
This building was my former school; now it's a museum.
这栋建筑是我以前的学校；现在它成了一个博物馆。
AI contextual example
Between tea and coffee, I prefer the former because it has less caffeine.
在茶和咖啡之间，我更喜欢前者，因为它的咖啡因更少。
AI contextual example
the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one
这部小说在1943年和1967年先后被改编成电影；我更喜欢前者而不是后者。
WordNet
表示过去担任某职位的人。
She is a former president of the company.
她是公司的前任总裁。
用于指代已提及的两者中的第一个。
Between science and art, I prefer the former.
在科学和艺术之间，我更喜欢前者。
修饰名词，表示以前的、先前的状态。
He returned to his former home.
他回到了他以前的房子。
Not this
He wore a former suit to the party.
Use this
He wore a formal suit to the party.
混淆了'former'（前任的，以前的）和'formal'（正式的）的拼写和含义。'former'表示时间上的先前或职位上的前任，而'formal'指符合礼仪或官方规定的。
Not this
Please read the former three chapters.
Use this
Please read the previous three chapters.
'former'通常仅用于指代两者中的第一个，而非系列中的多个前项。当提及多个（超过两个）项目中的前面部分时，应使用'previous'或'earlier'。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
前任总统
The former president attended the ceremony.
前总统出席了典礼。
前同事
I met my former colleague at the conference.
我在会议上遇到了我的前同事。
以前的学生
She is a former student of this university.
她是这所大学以前的学生。
故居
They visited the former home of the famous writer.
他们参观了那位著名作家的故居。
前苏联
Many countries emerged after the breakup of the former Soviet Union.
前苏联解体后出现了许多国家。
前冠军
The former champion is now a coach.
那位前冠军现在是一名教练。
昔日的辉煌
The old town has lost its former glory.
这座古镇已失去了昔日的辉煌。
过去的自己
After the accident, he was a shadow of his former self.
事故后，他变得不像从前了。
前世；过去的生活
She often talks about her former life as a teacher.
她经常谈起她以前当老师的生活。
以前的事都过去了。
The former president gave a speech.
前总统发表了演讲。
Use former naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
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former（前者）与latter（后者）对比，f像first（第一），即前一个。
中性。通常用于描述前任职务、以往状态或对比中的前者。
“former”通常用作定语（attributive），指“以前的；前任的”或“前者的”，不作表语。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.