1
as in grandfather
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancestor
Herzog imagines our earliest ancestors might have evinced a similar curiosity about the novel fire-scarred landscape — seeing fire less as a seasonal catastrophe than as a potential caloric windfall.
—
Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
But a long time ago, our early-human ancestors were caring for children under decidedly more precarious conditions.
—Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025
Today, the genomes of most modern humans whose ancestors migrated to Europe and Asia contain about 1% to 4% of Neanderthal DNA.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
However, the new model’s evolutionary spikes made the new trees 30% shorter with respect to gradual change, which suggested that less time had passed between the earliest ancestors and the tips of the branches, and that the enzymes had evolved more quickly.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
But a long time ago, our early-human ancestors were caring for children under decidedly more precarious conditions.
—Elissa Strauss, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025
Today, the genomes of most modern humans whose ancestors migrated to Europe and Asia contain about 1% to 4% of Neanderthal DNA.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
However, the new model’s evolutionary spikes made the new trees 30% shorter with respect to gradual change, which suggested that less time had passed between the earliest ancestors and the tips of the branches, and that the enzymes had evolved more quickly.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
Noun
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In 1943, when the Mississippi tore away from its banks and charted a fierce and muddy course across America’s central farmlands, Gerard’s grandfather, Harold Gerard, had already fled the waters once.—
Julia Rendleman,
ProPublica,
5 Sep. 2025
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The film will follow a young boy sent to spend a summer with his charismatic and wildly eccentric grandfather on a remote Welsh farm.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The reactor is the forerunner to the Aalo Pod, a 50-megawatt modular power plant designed specifically for data centers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
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Bittler has been with Paramount (and its forerunner Viacom) for some 25 years, most recently as executive vp communications for the company’s kids and family division, including Nickelodeon, Awesomeness and kids and family series at Paramount+.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Chilean-American actress and singer did not reveal the age of her child or the identity of the father.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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His father taught him that a husband provides, a wife takes care of children.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Assisted-driving tech is also considered a precursor to fully autonomous cars, a technology that analysts say can unlock huge new markets for ride-hailing fleets as well as personal self-driving vehicles.—
Nora Eckert,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
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The robotic design allows Rainbow to test a broader range of chemical precursors, which increases the chances of discovering novel and high-performing quantum dots.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Armor Aluminum frame and glass create a cohesive package that feels well-balanced in the hand, just like the tablets' predecessors.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
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As mayor, Andrade blew the whistle on a contract for a company that developed a tax collection system for the city, a deal her predecessor approved without bringing it before the council, according to a record on the case.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The prototype is built using commercially available parts, including micro-LED lights, optical lenses, and sensors from smartphone cameras, keeping costs down and making future mass production feasible.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
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Working together, the plant teams agreed to accept shorter lead times for receiving prototypes in return for designs with fewer problems.—
Nelson P. Repenning,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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