1. 前任的;先前的
    Former is used to describe someone who used to have a particular job, position, or role, but no longer has it.

    e.g. 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。
    e.g. ...former President Richard Nixon...
           前总统理查德·尼克松

2. (国家)原先的，先前的
    Former is used to refer to countries which no longer exist or whose boundaries have changed.

    e.g. ...the former Soviet Union.
           前苏联
    e.g. ...the former Yugoslavia.
           前南斯拉夫

3. 昔日的;旧时的;曾经的
    Former is used to describe something which used to belong to someone or which used to be a particular thing.

    e.g. ...the former home of Sir Christopher Wren.
           克里斯托弗·雷恩爵士的旧居
    e.g. ...a former monastery.
           昔日的修道院

4. 早先的;从前的
    Former is used to describe a situation or period of time which came before the present one.

former

    e.g. He would want you to remember him as he was in former years.
           他可能会希望你记住他早年的样子。

5. 前者;前一个
    When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to the first of them as the former .

former

    e.g. 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。
    e.g. If the family home and joint pension rights are of equal value, the wife may choose the former and the husband the latter.
           如果家庭住房和共同养老金具有同样的价值，妻子可能会选前者，而丈夫会选后者。