predecessor
noun
pre·de·ces·sor
ˈpre-də-ˌse-sər 
ˈprē-;
ˌpre-də-ˈse-,
ˌprē-
1
: one that precedes
especially
: a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
2
archaic
: ancestor
Examples of predecessor in a Sentence
Today's computers are much faster than their predecessors were.
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s one of the challenges that Gearbox confronted when developing Borderlands 4 (out Sept. 12), a sequel that’s due to arrive in a very different gaming landscape than its predecessor.
—
Jonathan Zavaleta, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2025
Alas, the rest of moisturizer is serious, almost subdued, at least compared with its rollicking predecessor.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2025
In fact, the predecessor of the bar cart was once a Victorian-era tea trolley.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2025
The exit of McCarthy, a 22-year veteran of Paramount Global and predecessor Viacom, will become official once Skydance announces the post-merger leadership of the combined company with David Ellison as CEO.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
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Jonathan Zavaleta, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2025
Alas, the rest of moisturizer is serious, almost subdued, at least compared with its rollicking predecessor.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2025
In fact, the predecessor of the bar cart was once a Victorian-era tea trolley.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2025
The exit of McCarthy, a 22-year veteran of Paramount Global and predecessor Viacom, will become official once Skydance announces the post-merger leadership of the combined company with David Ellison as CEO.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Cite this Entry
“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predecessor. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predecessor
noun
pre·de·ces·sor
ˈpred-ə-ˌses-ər
ˈprēd-
ˈprēd-
: one that precedes
especially
: a person who has held a position or office before another
Etymology
Middle English predecessour "predecessor," from early French predecesseur (same meaning), from Latin praedecessor "one that goes before," from prae- "before, pre-," and decessor "retiring governor," from decedere "to depart," from de- "from" and cedere "to go, go away" — related to ancestor, concede
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