Synonyms of ancestor

ancestor

noun

ˈan-ˌse-stər 

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

• grandfather
• father
• grandmother
• progenitor
• forefather
• forebear
• ancestry
• forebearer
• primogenitor
• predecessor
• ancestress
• patriarch
• matriarch
• antecessor
• foremother
• grandsire
• antecedents
• sire
• roots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• descendant
• family
• children
• lineage
• offspring
• seed
• progeny
• stock
• issue
• son
• daughter
• posterity
• successor
• heir
• inheritor
• scion

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forerunner
• precursor
• predecessor
• prototype
• original
• antecedent
• daddy
• archetype
• granddaddy
• originator
• mother
• model
• foregoer
• father
• sire

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• descendant
• son
• derivative
• daughter
• offshoot
• outgrowth
• by-product
• spin-off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ancestor

One of the most prominent theories about the origins of human language is that our ancestors started to communicate using gestural language. — Hannah Little, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2026

Tribe members tell stories from when their ancestors lived on this land. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an American observation honoring the cultures and contributions of people whose ancestors come from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Spain, according to the official website. — Nicole Harris, Parents, 19 Sep. 2026

One hallway features a wall of old photographs of her ancestors, alongside newer images of her immediate family members. — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026