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
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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
The harvests became community events where younger tribal members learned how their ancestors butchered and used the buffalo.
—
Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 28 May 2025
Smaller shark species such as requiem sharks and ancestors of today’s cetaceans, dolphins and whales, were next.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs noted his ancestors were among the first white settlers in the county in 1835, at a settlement a few hundred feet from the site.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Moringa oleifera is native to Indian subcontinent, particularly the Himalayan foothills, while another species, Moringa stenopetala, grows in the Horn of Africa: southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and even Somalia, where Elba’s ancestors are from.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 28 May 2025
Smaller shark species such as requiem sharks and ancestors of today’s cetaceans, dolphins and whales, were next.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Porter County Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs noted his ancestors were among the first white settlers in the county in 1835, at a settlement a few hundred feet from the site.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Moringa oleifera is native to Indian subcontinent, particularly the Himalayan foothills, while another species, Moringa stenopetala, grows in the Horn of Africa: southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and even Somalia, where Elba’s ancestors are from.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
Noun
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Even more breathtaking than Williams' entrance, though, was her brief scene beside the bed of Jen's dying grandfather, which would ultimately kick off the first of countless tearjerker moments peppered throughout the series.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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After his grandfather died a few years later, Pitsaev and his mom moved back to Chechnya.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Military training was also a non-starter, since the U.S. Army Air Service (a forerunner to the Air Force) did not accept women.—
Victor Luckerson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 May 2025
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It has been said that Nomad was the forerunner of all modern station wagons.—
David Krumboltz,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That said, Shane Hawkins has stepped into his father’s role in his long-running side project Chevy Metal.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2025
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Killmonger’s deeper motivation is sadder and less grandiose: His father, the brother of the late king, was murdered by Wakandan agents, forcing Killmonger to grow up alone and exiled from his ancestral homeland.—
Zak Cheney-Rice,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Tort claims are typically filed as precursors to a potential lawsuit.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2025
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Gleason worked as a senior adviser to the U.S. Digital Service, the precursor to DOGE.—
Melissa Quinn
May 21,
CBS News,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Read more: The Meaning of Germany’s Dramatic Rearmament The shift marks a departure from Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had resisted sending long-range weaponry to Ukraine, citing fears of Russian escalation.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
27 May 2025
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Segura’s predecessor, Dana Tomarken, was abruptly fired in April of 2018 after 25 years with the Academy, resulting in her filing a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the Academy.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Taking place in June 2023, American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans studies the story of when an American stock car Chevrolet Camaro competed against the futuristic Ferrari and Porsche prototypes in the grueling 24-hour challenge.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
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This is a polished-looking prototype but not necessarily a pending commercial product.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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