as in father
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
this tradition has been passed down from our pioneer grandfathers
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Recent Examples of grandfather
Dad John was a hall of fame basketball player at Middlebury College and their grandfather, John Otis, played baseball at Dartmouth and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 June 2025
Rather than discarding it, Russ’ grandfather, Harry Sifers, deposited the soft marshmallow into chocolate cups.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
My grandfather had died about six months before that.
—Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
My grandmother found her vocation within the surrounding and seemingly infinite national forestland, and after helping at the family-run tavern and serving his country in World War II, my grandfather built handcrafted fishing rods.
—Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grandfather
Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 June 2025
Rather than discarding it, Russ’ grandfather, Harry Sifers, deposited the soft marshmallow into chocolate cups.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
My grandfather had died about six months before that.
—Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
My grandmother found her vocation within the surrounding and seemingly infinite national forestland, and after helping at the family-run tavern and serving his country in World War II, my grandfather built handcrafted fishing rods.
—Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grandfather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandfather
Noun
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His father Jason Richardson spent more than a decade in the NBA, including part of two seasons with the Magic (2010-12).—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
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Originally designed in 1895 by Sir Henry Peto—whose father built Nelson’s Column—the grounds have been restored and expanded.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
26 June 2025
Noun
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As Charles Handy explained in The Age of Paradox, modern life forces us to navigate complexities our ancestors never faced, such as the tension between efficiency and humanity or between individual freedom and collective responsibility.—
Shane Enete,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Throughout the middle passage, it has been said that our ancestors wove familiar items such as beads, shells, or even seeds and grains from home into their braids, to keep with them along their journeys.—
Essence,
Essence,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grandfather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandfather. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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