happening or existing before, but not now

以前〔发生或存在〕的，从前的;

the former Soviet Union

前苏联

Their farm has been reduced to half its former size.

他们的农场已缩小到以前一半大小。

having a particular position in the past

〔地位〕昔日的，前…;

my former husband

我的前夫

former president Clinton

前总统克林顿

in former times / years, in the past

从前

sb / sth's former self, what someone or something was like before they were changed by age, illness, trouble etc

以前的你〔指与现在经历衰老、疾病、苦难等后对比〕:

She seems more like her former self.

她似乎回到了以前的样子。

The team's a shadow of its former self.

该队雄风不再。

the former, [formal] the first of two people or things that you have just mentioned

前者;

Of the two possibilities, the former seems more likely.

在这两种可能性中，前者似乎更有可能。

first / second / sixth etc former, [BrE] used in some schools to show which class a student is in, according to how many years they have been in school

一年级/二年级/六年级等的学生