formerly

adverb

FOR-mur-lee/ˈfɔɹmɚli/UKFAW-muh-lee/ˈfɔːməli/

Often confused with formally

2 meanings of formerly

1
adverb
At an earlier time, but not now.
She formerly worked at the bank downtown.
This building, formerly a school, now holds apartments.
Similarpreviously, once, earlier, before
Oppositenow, currently, presently
2
adverb
At some point during the time before now.
The land here was formerly covered by thick forest.
People formerly traveled these roads by horse and cart.
Similaronce, previously, earlier, historically, before
Oppositenow, currently, nowadays, today

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Origin

It comes from the word "former" plus the ending "-ly".