former 的核心是「曾经是，现在不再是」。用作限定词（former president，前总统）强调「曾担任某角色」；用作代词（the former...the latter，前者…后者）指「前面提到的那个」。两个用法都与「时间或顺序上的在前」有关。
释义
1
adj.前任的，曾经的（现在不再是）
The former president gave a speech at the university.
前任总统在大学发表了演讲。
2
pron.（the former）前者（两者中的第一个）
Between honesty and tact, the former is more important in the long run.
诚实与圆滑之间，从长远来看前者更重要。
语感
former 永远指两件事：前任、或者前者
前任的曾经的前者
former（前任/前者）和 latter（后者）是高考必考的一对固定搭配。规则简单：前面提到两者，the former 指第一个，the latter 指第二个。如果提到三个以上，用 the first、the last，不用 former/latter。另外注意：former 作「前任」时不与冠词 the 连用（former president，不是 the former president，除非特指某一位）。
陷阱
⚠️三者以上不能用 former/latter
✗
Among running, swimming, and cycling, the former is the most accessible for beginners.
（误）在跑步、游泳和骑车中，前者对初学者最容易上手。
former/latter 只用于两者对比；三者以上应用 the first / the last
✓
Among running, swimming, and cycling, the first is the most accessible for beginners.
在跑步、游泳和骑车中，第一个对初学者最容易上手。
⚠️former = 曾经是，now no longer
She was a former Olympic champion.
✗
former = 很有名的，过去辉煌的
✓
former 纯粹指「曾经是，现在不再是」；She was a former champion = 她曾是冠军，现在不是了
她曾是奥运冠军。（now retired or no longer holding the title）
近义辨析
formervsprevious
former曾经担任某角色，现在不再是previous紧接在现在之前的，强调时间顺序上的上一个
The former director has since retired.
前任主任此后已退休。
Please review the previous chapter before the exam.
考试前请复习上一章的内容。
写作加分
此词暂无特别的写作加分用法
常用搭配
the former ... the latter前者……后者
former president / leader前任总统／领导人
in former times / years在过去，从前
a former student / colleague前学生／前同事
词根
form（形成）→ former = 比现在更早「形成」的，过去的那个
考考你
Q1对错判断
判断下面句子里 former 的用法是否正确：
Among speed, accuracy, and creativity, the former is most valued in competitive programming.
在速度、准确性和创造力中，前者在竞争性编程中最受重视。
✓ 正确版本
Among speed, accuracy, and creativity, the first is most valued in competitive programming.
在速度、准确性和创造力中，第一个（速度）在竞争性编程中最受重视。
former/latter 只用于两者对比；三者以上用 the first / the second / the last
Q2搭配还原
选择正确的词完成句子：
Between flexibility and stability, the ___ is often sacrificed in the pursuit of the latter.
在灵活性与稳定性之间，追求后者时往往牺牲了……
Aformer
Bfirst
Cprevious
Dearlier
完整搭配：the former ... the latter 前者……后者（两者对比时的固定搭配）
两者对比时指「前者」固定用 the former，与 the latter 配对使用
Q3近义选词
选择最恰当的词填空：
Please refer to the ___ section of this report for the background information.