as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of predecessor
The agency reports directly to the Office of the Prime Minister, a post currently held by Anutin Charnvirakul, who was elected by the Thai parliament on September 7 following the ousting of his predecessor and who has pledged to hold public elections early next year.
—
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Trump had ended the preferential treatment given to some sectors of the energy industry under his predecessor.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Yet nothing that Six Flags or its predecessors have done with Peanuts or Looney Tunes rises to the level that other companies have done with these franchises abroad.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Trump met Elizabeth during his first term as president but did not attend her funeral as Biden was president at the time and the invite from the British government did not extend to predecessors.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Trump had ended the preferential treatment given to some sectors of the energy industry under his predecessor.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Yet nothing that Six Flags or its predecessors have done with Peanuts or Looney Tunes rises to the level that other companies have done with these franchises abroad.
—Robert Niles, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Trump met Elizabeth during his first term as president but did not attend her funeral as Biden was president at the time and the invite from the British government did not extend to predecessors.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessor
Noun
-
Schuyler, who a decade ago sold her company, Epitome Pictures, to DHX Media, a forerunner of Wild Brain Entertainment, was not available for comment on Wednesday.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This provides excellent evidence that all life on Earth shares one common ancestor.—
Thomas Moynihan,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the precursors for that reality may already be in motion, Metzger noted.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
After a follow-up period of 7½ years, the team concluded that higher iron levels in two key parts of the brain were linked to a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment, which is typically a precursor to the development of Alzheimer’s dementia.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessor. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share