Word · CEFR B2 · Frequency #3584
formerly
以前；从前；先前
核心释义
previously; in the past
- 1.
在过去某时。
at some time in the past
- 2.
在以前的时间
at a previous time
- 3.
先前；一度。
previously; once
在过去某时。；在以前的时间；先前；一度。；从前；以前
用法In use
She formerly worked as a teacher before becoming a writer.
用法提示：副词 formerly 表示过去的状态或职业，用于描述某人过去的身份。
This building was formerly a hospital, but now it's a museum.
用法提示：副词 formerly 说明某地过去的用途或性质。
They formerly lived in New York, but they moved to Los Angeles last year.
用法提示：副词 formerly 表示过去的地点或居住状态。
formerly, + 句子
用于句首，后面加逗号，引出过去的情况。
Formerly, this building was a hospital.
以前，这栋楼是一家医院。
主语 + formerly + 动词
位于主语之后、实义动词之前。
She formerly worked as a teacher.
相关词与表达Connections
搭配Collocations
- formerly known as
- 以前被称为
- The company, formerly known as Acme Corp., changed its name last year.这家公司以前被称为Acme公司，去年改了名。
- formerly a member
- 前成员
- She is a formerly a member of the board of directors.她是董事会的前成员。
- formerly occupied
- 以前被占据的
- The building was formerly occupied by a law firm.这栋建筑以前被一家律师事务所占据。
- formerly used
- 以前使用的
- This room was formerly used as a storage space.这个房间以前用作储藏室。
- formerly called
学习提示Learner notes
记忆技巧Memory Tip
以前是former，加ly成formerly，联想'former'（前任）代表过去。
语境与语域Context & Register
通常用于正式或书面语境，表示‘以前’之意，在口语中也偶尔使用，但多见于记叙或说明文字。
发音与拼写Pronunciation & Spelling
normally and formally rhyme with formerly (stressed vowel /ɔː/ followed by /məli/); other words like likely, commonly, and friendly share the -ly ending but have different stressed vowels.
高价值词汇High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
用法优先级Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 2，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.