former
单词辨析：
指在当下所提及的事件、时间等之前发生或存在的，通常作定语。
She has a child from a previous marriage.
她前一次婚姻有一个孩子。
He discovered that he had met his new colleague before on three previous occasions.
他发现他以前见过他的新同事3次。
指事物在讲述、文章等中刚刚提到的，常作定语。
the foregoing examples
上述例证
The foregoing conclusion is based on the following data.
上述结论是根据以下数据得出的。
指曾有过某种职务或地位的，也可指发生或存在于过去的。
He has a great interest in books about the former president.
他对和那位前总统有关的书十分感兴趣。
His income has been reduced to half its former amount due to the economic depression.
由于经济萧条，他的收入已减少到以前的一半。
指在所提时间、地点或部分之前发生或出现的。
The examples in the preceding chapter are used again later.
上一章的例子后面又再次被使用。
Their plan of seeing a movie together on Friday failed because they had a quarrel on the preceding day.
他们周五一起看电影的计划泡汤了，因为他们在前一天吵了一架。
较正式用词，多指先于另一事物或某一时间前存在或安排的。
The discussion requires prior knowledge of the subject.
本次讨论要求事先了解该主题的相关知识。
No employee can be recruited without the prior approval of the manager.
事先未征得经理的同意不可以招收任何员工。
相关例句：
The former President was demanding that he should be either put on trial or set free
前总统要求要么对他进行审判，要么将他释放。
The unemployed executives include former sales managers, directors and accountants.
被解雇的管理人员包括前销售经理、主管和会计。
I'm going to call on one of my former classmates.
我要去看望我的一位老同学。
Given the choice between a pure white T-shirt and a more expensive, dirty cream one, most people can be forgiven for choosing the former
如果要在一件纯白的T恤和一件更贵的脏兮兮的米色T恤之间选择的话，多数人都会选前者，这是无可厚非的。
He is conducting a point-by-point rebuttal of charges from former colleagues
他正在对前同事的指责进行逐条反驳。
He hopes to have his 12-year prison term reduced by testifying against his former colleagues.
他希望通过出庭检举从前的同事缩短自己12年的刑期。