former /ˈfoɚmɚ/ adjective Learner's definition of FORMER
always used before a noun
1
—
used to say what someone or something was in the past前任的;以前的 2
: existing in the past從前的;舊時的 -
They hope to restore the old theater to its former glory. [=to make it as good as it was in the past]他們想重現老劇院昔日的輝煌。
-
She is now just a shadow of her former self. [=she is not the same person she once was]她已經今不如昔了。
the former
: the first one of two things or people that have been mentioned(兩者中的)前者 -
Of these two options, the former is less expensive, while the latter is less risky.這兩個選擇中,前者花費低一些,而後者風險小一些。
-
If offered a choice between death and exile, he said that he would choose the former. [=he would choose death]如果在死亡和流亡中選擇的話,他說他甯可選擇前者。
— compare the latter at latter