Former refers to something that came at an earlier time, or before something else. For example, someone who believes in reincarnation might wonder about their former life — or even lives — before their present existence. When something or someone has changed, we can refer to them as former.
What does the latter and the former mean?
Former refers to something that is first in the order of two or more things. Latter refers to something that is either second in a group of two things or last in a group of several.
What is former and latter example?
In particular, “former” refers to the first of two things, while “latter” refers to the second: Between cake and death, I prefer the former over the latter. Between cake and death, I prefer the former. Here, “former” still refers to “cake” (i.e., the first of two options).
How do you use former and latter in a sentence?
- Use former when referring to the first of two things.
- Use latter when referring to the second of two things.
What is latter example?
latter Add to list Share. When you are comparing two things, the first one is known as the former and the second as the latter. For example, George Bush and George W. Bush were both U. S. presidents. The latter was the son of the former.
What is an example of former?
The definition of former is something that happened in the past or a previously held role. An example of former is a person who was once a policeman but is now retired. An example of former is the first thing mentioned in a serious of items.
What is the latter and former in a sentence?
The terms former and latter are words used to distinguish between two things. Former directs us to the first of these two things, and latter directs us to the second (or last) of them. Do not use former or latter when you are writing about more than two things. It is a relative of our modern word later.
What is an example of latter?
When you are comparing two things, the first one is known as the former and the second as the latter. For example, George Bush and George W. Bush were both U. S. presidents. The latter was the son of the former.
How do you use former in a sentence?
- She felt too bad for the former goddess to walk away.
- Prince Vasili, who still occupied his former important posts, formed a connecting link between these two circles.
- I'm a former deity.
- How sick was the man who kept his former enemy as a slave?
Is former a synonym for previous?
Frequently Asked Questions About former Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.
What do they mean by the former?
Definition of the former : the first one of two things or people that have been mentioned Of these two options, the former is less expensive, while the latter is less risky. If offered a choice between death and exile, he said that he would choose the former.