as in forerunners
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 predecessors
Those deals, however, were executed by Johnson’s predecessors.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 23 June 2026
There is something stereotypically masculine about the kind of chest-pumping, overly stylish translations of your predecessors.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026
The film, based on Thomas Perry’s novel Strip, wears its influences — ranging from Elmore Leonard to Carl Hiaasen to Quentin Tarantino — heavily, without the genuine wit of many of its predecessors.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
During more than 50 years as a member of the EU and its predecessors, many British businesses also came to rely on Europe as a source of cheap labor, especially after the bloc’s eastward expansion in 2004.
—Danica Kirka, Fortune, 22 June 2026
Unlike its predecessors, physical capability can’t be purchased overnight, outsourced, or faked for long.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Samsung Smartphone Deal The Galaxy Z Fold 7 redefines the foldable experience by being wider and slimmer than its predecessors, while offering 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to support its massive 8-inch main screen.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026
Many of these coupists capitalized on public discontent over deteriorating economies and security conditions to overthrow their predecessors.
—Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
Trump’s predecessors were hardly saints.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 23 June 2026
There is something stereotypically masculine about the kind of chest-pumping, overly stylish translations of your predecessors.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026
The film, based on Thomas Perry’s novel Strip, wears its influences — ranging from Elmore Leonard to Carl Hiaasen to Quentin Tarantino — heavily, without the genuine wit of many of its predecessors.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
During more than 50 years as a member of the EU and its predecessors, many British businesses also came to rely on Europe as a source of cheap labor, especially after the bloc’s eastward expansion in 2004.
—Danica Kirka, Fortune, 22 June 2026
Unlike its predecessors, physical capability can’t be purchased overnight, outsourced, or faked for long.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Samsung Smartphone Deal The Galaxy Z Fold 7 redefines the foldable experience by being wider and slimmer than its predecessors, while offering 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to support its massive 8-inch main screen.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026
Many of these coupists capitalized on public discontent over deteriorating economies and security conditions to overthrow their predecessors.
—Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
Trump’s predecessors were hardly saints.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessors
Noun
-
Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.—
Chris Roush,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Like their ancient ancestors, visitors standing at the center of the stone circle on Sunday will be able to watch the sun rise above the Heel Stone to the northeast — weather depending, of course.—
Elmira Aliieva,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
-
How did some of our oldest ancestors make the first step onto land some 350 million years ago?—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Earth-impacting shrapnel from those primordial upheavals may have helped seed our planet with the precursors for life, delivering water and organic compounds from the dark, icy depths of the outer solar system.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
18 June 2026
-
Tort claims are necessary precursors to potential lawsuits against the government.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predecessors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessors. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
