successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows

especially : one who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Examples of successor in a Sentence

The CEO's successor used to be the vice president here.

the successor to the throne

Recent Examples on the Web

The reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark, won the 2024 title and will return to crown her successor. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025

The deferral means the item will come back to the commission at Carollo’s last meeting before his successor is sworn in. —Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025

The Lemon Cake Bakery, Cafe Europa’s successor, has a Mission Farms spot at 10683 Mission Road. —Kansas City Star, 20 Nov. 2025

When Cornell’s departure and the appointment of his successor Michael Fiddelke was announced, many analysts wondered aloud whether the new CEO is the right man for the job. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English successour, from Anglo-French, from Latin successor, from succedere

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for successor

• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar
• oppressor
• possessor
• processor
• professor
• repressor

Kids Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈses-ər 

: one that follows

especially : a person who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Legal Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows : one that succeeds another (as in a position, title, office, or estate)