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
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Recent Examples of predecessors
Biden’s antitrust enforcers were also wrong to believe that their Democratic predecessors had ignored all factors other than costs to consumers.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
The actress and Chanel ambassador wore an icy blue-and-black slingback from the French house, giving the classic Chanel cap-toe a softer, modern read than its straight-cut predecessors.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
An ominous cloud hangs over Vahidi, as several of his predecessors were assassinated by the US and Israel – including Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Trump’s predecessors often used blind trusts or broad diversified mutual funds while in office.
—Justina Lee, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Why Players Wanted To Boycott The French Open Today, top tennis players make more money than their predecessors.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The announcement has frustrated long-time AcuRite users, largely because the new app lacks some of its predecessors’ capabilities.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026
Schoen hasn’t traded back in four straight drafts, continuing a trend of predecessors Dave Gettleman and Jerry Reese.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Flight 12 will do much the same as its predecessors.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 May 2026
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
The actress and Chanel ambassador wore an icy blue-and-black slingback from the French house, giving the classic Chanel cap-toe a softer, modern read than its straight-cut predecessors.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
An ominous cloud hangs over Vahidi, as several of his predecessors were assassinated by the US and Israel – including Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Trump’s predecessors often used blind trusts or broad diversified mutual funds while in office.
—Justina Lee, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Why Players Wanted To Boycott The French Open Today, top tennis players make more money than their predecessors.
—Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The announcement has frustrated long-time AcuRite users, largely because the new app lacks some of its predecessors’ capabilities.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026
Schoen hasn’t traded back in four straight drafts, continuing a trend of predecessors Dave Gettleman and Jerry Reese.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Flight 12 will do much the same as its predecessors.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 19 May 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
-
In her book Fresh Banana Leaves, Indigenous scientist and scholar Jessica Hernandez meditates on the meaning of the banana plant within the ecologies of her ancestors across what is now Mexico and El Salvador.—
Sophia Rey,
JSTOR Daily,
28 May 2026
-
Crocodilian ancestors have persisted through mass extinctions, dramatic climate shifts and ecological upheavals that have eradicated countless other lineages.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
These foods don’t have sky-high amounts of melatonin, and some contain more precursors to melatonin than the hormone itself, Tahir says.—
Sarah Klein,
Time,
28 May 2026
-
People across the country are seeking millions through federal tort claims, precursors to possible lawsuits.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predecessors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessors. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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