Collocations for "former"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "former" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
former
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- the former [champion, president, ambassador] (of)
- former [students, pupils, employees, teachers, staff]
- former [users, members, customers, clients]
- [regain, get back, entice, target] former [users]
- [discounts, special offers] for former [users]
- my former [boss, lover, professor, husband]
- the former [Soviet Union, Republic of Macedonia]
- in a former [life, existence, stage]
- in former [times, eras, ages]
- had [met, dined, spoken] on a former occasion
- the former [idea, suggestion, plan] was better than the latter
- [according, made reference] to the former
- [prefer, choose, select] the former
- would rather [do, take, have] the former
- [prefer] the former [over, rather than] the latter
- do you prefer the latter, or the former?
- the former [or, and] the latter
- [consult with, listen to] opinion formers
- a [shape, case] former
'former' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
CEO
- a shell
- acquaintance
- assistant
- boss
- boyfriend
- brother-in-law
- chair
- chief
- claim
- classmate
- coach
- colleague
- convict
- defeat
- echo
- employer
- fatty
- ghost
- girlfriend
- grudge
- head
- improvement
- indictment
- infatuation
- kill
- life
- marine
- minister
- nun
- politician
- pupil
- reflection
- registration
- restore
- reunion
- revenge
- rival
- scenario
- shadow
- shell
- skeleton
- sovereign
- succeed