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

These new rulers were keen to sell themselves as legitimate successors to the emperors, and there was considerable continuity during this turbulent period. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026

Hussein’s killing is seen as having cemented the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, which stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Muhammad’s successors as caliph, or leader. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

Friend, 50, a dentist, has been endorsed by Gottlieb as his successor. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026

Johnson’s own tenure, from 2019 to 2022, was relatively long compared with those of his successors, but it was cut short by scandals linked to his behavior during the coronavirus pandemic—not by Brexit, which finally happened under his watch. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 25 June 2026

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)