supersede

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verb su·per·sede \ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd\

Definition of supersede

superseded

;

superseding

transitive verb
1a : to cause to be set asideb : to force out of use as inferior
2 : to take the place or position of
3 : to displace in favor of another

superseder

noun

See supersede defined for English-language learners

See supersede defined for kids

supersede was our Word of the Day on 10/10/2010. Hear the podcast!

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 Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results.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The ancient human carriers of information and understanding—elders, priests, bards, teachers, and community members—are superseded by a more durable and efficient medium, the printed word.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Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.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 of supersede from the Web

Not a single word in either statute indicates that Congress intended to supersede, terminate, or take away any right enjoyed by unaccompanied minors at the time of the acts’ passage.

— priscilla alvarez, The Atlantic, "Court Says Undocumented Minors Have the Right to a Bond Hearing," 6 July 2017
The House bill would supersede the state court decision and impose the cap in Florida cases.

— michelle andrews, Kaiser Health News, "House Seeks To Cap Malpractice Awards As Part Of Health Care Update," 27 June 2017
Even if the bill had been signed into law with its original language, the certainty of its legally allowing pregnant women to commit murder would have conflicted with New Hampshire laws, not to mention superseding federal ones.

— lily carollo, The Cut, "New Hampshire Fixes Mistake in Anti-Abortion Bill That Allowed Women to Commit Murder," 23 June 2017
Federal authorities originally indicted 11 alleged members in 2014, before adding Allen in a superseding indictment in August 2015.

— ken daley, NOLA.com, "Federal Young Melph Mafia racketeering trial ends with guilty verdicts," 19 June 2017
The Senate vote was 27 to 13, and the House followed by agreeing 88 to 31 to supersede the Republican governor’s wishes on the tax plan and force the changes into law.

— hunter woodall, kansascity, "Legislature overrides Brownback’s veto of bill that rolls back his 2012 tax cuts," 6 June 2017
The first one took effect in 2002, superseding local codes and also incorporating the stronger Broward and Miami-Dade provisions.

— brett clarkson, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hurricane Andrew's legacy remains as 25th anniversary approaches," 26 May 2017
In October 2016, the brothers pleaded not guilty, and a third defendant, Lanore Belfrey, Thurlee Belfrey’s wife, was added by superseding indictment.

— mary divine, Twin Cities, "Former Stillwater mayor’s sentencing for fraud delayed again," 8 May 2017
Those physical tokens, in turn, gradually are being superseded by electronic ones, ranging from credit card transactions to new forms of digital currency designed for transferring and amassing wealth on the Internet.

— National Geographic, "The Journey of Humankind: How Money Made Us Modern," 20 Mar. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of supersede

Middle English (Scots) superceden to defer, from Middle French superceder, from Latin supersedēre to sit on top, refrain from, from super- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1654

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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

SUPERSEDE Defined for English Language Learners

supersede

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verb

Definition of supersede for English Language Learners

: to take the place of (someone or something that is old, no longer useful, etc.) : to replace (someone or something)

SUPERSEDE Defined for Kids

supersede

play

verb su·per·sede \ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd\

Definition of supersede for Students

superseded

;

superseding

: to take the place or position of These instructions supersede those you received earlier.

Law Dictionary

supersede

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transitive verb su·per·sede \ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd\

Legal Definition of supersede

superseded

superseding

1 : to subject to postponement or suspension; especially : to suspend the operation of (a judgment or order) by means of a supersedeas
2 : to take the place of in authority : preempt, override
3 : to take the place of and render null or ineffective