ancestor
noun
an·ces·tor
ˈan-ˌse-stər 
also -sə-
1
a
: one from whom a person is descended and who is usually more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent
Her ancestors came to America in the 1880s.
2
: forerunner, prototype
an exhibit of the ancestors of the modern computer
3
: a progenitor (see progenitor sense 1b) of a more recent or existing species or group
the ancestor of the modern horse
Synonyms
Examples of ancestor in a Sentence
My ancestors came to America during the 1800s.
Her ancestors were great sea captains.
an ancient animal that was the ancestor of the modern horse
The museum included an exhibit showing ancestors of the modern computer.
several languages that are derived from a common ancestor
Latin is the ancestor of Italian and French.
Recent Examples on the Web
This year’s theme — A Whole Harvest Dining Experience — will involve meals that use an entire plant, as the ancestors of today’s Black chefs did.
—
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2025
During the Lunar New Year period, families and loved ones gather to eat traditional holiday foods and pay their respects to their ancestors.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025
This fruit is grown in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, and is known as the ancestor of the common, sweet watermelon.
—Essence, 28 Jan. 2025
My ancestors have all died and the baton is in my hand.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ancestor 
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Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2025
During the Lunar New Year period, families and loved ones gather to eat traditional holiday foods and pay their respects to their ancestors.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025
This fruit is grown in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, and is known as the ancestor of the common, sweet watermelon.
—Essence, 28 Jan. 2025
My ancestors have all died and the baton is in my hand.
—Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ancestor
Dictionary Entries Near ancestor
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestor. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestor
noun
an·ces·tor
ˈan-ˌses-tər
1
: one from whom an individual, group, or species is descended
2
: something from which something else has developed : forerunner
Etymology
Middle English ancestre "ancestor," from early French ancestre (same meaning), from Latin antecessor "one that goes before," derived from earlier antecedere "to go before," from ante- "before" and cedere "to go, yield" — related to concede, predecessor
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