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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancestor
The moa’s evolutionary journey began tens of millions of years ago, when its ancestors arrived in New Zealand, likely by flying or rafting over when the landmass was still closer to other southern continents.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The data showed a genetic link between the modern Picuris Pueblo people, their ancestors and the inhabitants of Chaco Canyon.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
But the new Nature research has indicated that distal regulation originated even earlier than that, likely in the common ancestor of all the animals that are alive today.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025
The moment also calls back to the season premiere, an episode-length flashback starring Bradley Cooper as ancestor Elijah, a thief who accidentally becomes a Confederate chaplain and finds God along the way.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The data showed a genetic link between the modern Picuris Pueblo people, their ancestors and the inhabitants of Chaco Canyon.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
But the new Nature research has indicated that distal regulation originated even earlier than that, likely in the common ancestor of all the animals that are alive today.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025
The moment also calls back to the season premiere, an episode-length flashback starring Bradley Cooper as ancestor Elijah, a thief who accidentally becomes a Confederate chaplain and finds God along the way.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
Noun
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If Bill Rusher was a closeted gay man, he was tucked back there in the far corner, next to his grandfather’s golf clubs.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
13 May 2025
-
My grandfather ran a hotel in Sorrento, where I was born.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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While his Late Night forerunner Letterman was probably the comedic polestar of Generation X—gruff, cynical, and biting the hand that fed—O’Brien became a bedrock influence for the next generation of Millennial comics.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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The New York Dolls were forerunners of punk, and the band's style -- teased hair, women's clothes and lots of makeup -- inspired the glam movement that took up residence in heavy metal a decade later in bands like Faster Pussycat and Mötley Crüe.—
MARK KENNEDY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Their father, King George VI, had announced via radio broadcast that World War II was over in Europe after six years of fighting and the princesses joined him on the balcony of Buckingham Palace multiple times to greet the cheering crowds gathered below.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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McCall’s father had survived but suffered 30 per cent burns.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvator Dalí was a key proponent.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
8 May 2025
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Back then, President Barack Obama cancelled the space agency’s Constellation program—the precursor of Artemis, which was aiming to have bootprints back on the moon as early as 2015.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 May 2025
Noun
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As this report explained, each park broke new ground and exceeded the expectations set by its predecessors.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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This isn’t going to be exactly like its immediate predecessors.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
Noun
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All those fancy market reports can’t compete with actually watching someone struggle with your prototype, seeing their face scrunch up in confusion.—
Goran Paun,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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The Next-Generation of All-Electric RVing As with the early prototype, the Flow features thoughtfully appointed interiors and a sleek design that Pebble says is designed to reduce drag.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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