formerly /ˈfoɚmɚli/ adverb Learner's definition of FORMERLY
: at an earlier time : in the past以前；早先 -
He was formerly a congressman.他以前当过议员。
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a privilege formerly [=previously] available only to the rich以前只有富人才能享有的特权
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Istanbul was formerly [=once] known as Constantinople.伊斯坦布尔以前名为君士坦丁堡。