supersede

verb

su·per·sede | \ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd

superseded; superseding

Definition of supersede

transitive verb

1a : to cause to be set aside

b : to force out of use as inferior

2 : to take the place or position of

3 : to displace in favor of another

Other Words from supersede Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about supersede

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Choose the Right Synonym for supersede

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another. replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate. replaced the broken window displace implies an ousting or dislodging. war had displaced thousands supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else. was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior. the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supersede in a Sentence

Fortunately, the scientific enterprise has its own self-correcting mechanisms that eventually sort things out. Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results. Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies. — Harriet Hall, Skeptic, 2007 The ancient human carriers of information and understanding—elders, priests, bards, teachers, and community members—are superseded by a more durable and efficient medium, the printed word. — M. Rex Miller, The Millennium Matrix, 2004 Upgrading America's too-old, too-slow telephone network, which took about a century to build, is a massive task. But if you believe predictions that the Internet will one day supersede the telephone as the world's primary means of communications, these companies will be road kill if they simply sit by the wayside. — Bethany McLean, Fortune, 6 Dec. 1999 This edition supersedes the previous one. Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.

Recent Examples on the Web

By the 1960s, however, the U.N.’s commitment to representation had superseded the necessity of humanitarian enforcement. — Martin Peretz, WSJ, "Let’s Get the U.N. Out of the U.S.," 28 Sep. 2018 Over time, 5G will supersede 4G across the country—but only for handsets that support it. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "AT&T reveals what cities will get 5G wireless in 2018 and 2019," 10 Sep. 2018 In other words: One American's right to own a gun supersedes the right of another American to protect himself from them, according to Kavanaugh's ruling. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "Fred Guttenberg Says Brett Kavanaugh Snubbed Him at SCOTUS Hearing," 4 Sep. 2018 Patriarchal social mores supersede economic opportunity in a way more usually associated with Middle Eastern countries. — The Economist, "Culture and the labour market keep India’s women at home," 5 July 2018 Nearly 100 years later, the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC superseded the century-old decree, prohibiting the government from capping any corporate campaign donation. — Davis Mccool, NBC News, "Republicans face ‘Dark Money’ campaign attacks in Montana," 1 July 2018 But the needs of the children released from the detention centers superseded all else. — Mike Jones, USA TODAY, "'Every one of us can be a hero': How NFL players Josh Norman, Demario Davis helped immigrant children released from detention centers," 28 June 2018 This federal law, known as ERISA, supersedes any state law relating to employee benefit plans, including retirement plans, for private-sector workers. — Kathleen Pender, San Francisco Chronicle, "Taxpayer group sues to block state-run CalSavers retirement plan," 31 May 2018 Most other North County cities have passed local ordinances that supersede the state’s new marijuana laws, and prohibit the commercial cultivation and sale of medical and recreational marijuana. — Phil Diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oceanside gives final OK to medical marijuana; to revisit dispensaries," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'supersede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.