Definition of predecessor
1 : one that precedes; especially : a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
2 archaic : ancestor
From the M-W Editors
Examples of predecessor in a Sentence
Today's computers are much faster than their predecessors were.
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
Recent Examples of predecessor from the Web
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Mr. Sayed was chosen to lead the group in Afghanistan after his predecessor, Abdul Hasib, was killed in April during a special forces raid in Nangarhar Province, where the militant group has been active.
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Her predecessor, William Brody, headed the institute from 2008 to 2015.
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Unlike his predecessor, Egel does not conduct the shows, entrusting the bulk of the baton duties to music director and principal conductor David Neely.
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So, just to get this out of the way: Anyone following a big name inevitably faces comparisons with one’s predecessor.
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If our medieval predecessors felt it important enough to create and save these texts centuries ago, there’s no telling what discoveries could be revealed under the light of the Manuscript Illuminator.
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His predecessor in the Kremlin, Vladimir Lenin, was everywhere, from the pins on our school uniforms to the statues or busts that seemed to adorn every public space.
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Watch Sabrina give a full run-down of her most influential predecessors below and learn how R&B music saved her.
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But both of these mechanical solutions are a shadow of their predecessor, IBM's buckling spring.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'predecessor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of predecessor
Middle English predecessour, from Anglo-French predecessur, from Late Latin praedecessor, from Latin prae- pre- + decessor retiring governor, from decedere to depart, retire from office — more at decease
PREDECESSOR Defined for English Language Learners
predecessor
playDefinition of predecessor for English Language Learners
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: a person who had a job or position before someone else
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: something that comes before something else
PREDECESSOR Defined for Kids
predecessor
playDefinition of predecessor for Students
: a person who held a job or position before someone else
Learn More about predecessor
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See words that rhyme with predecessor Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for predecessor Spanish Central: Translation of predecessor Nglish: Translation of predecessor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of predecessor for Arabic speakers
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