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
Before the Papacy As pope, he was noted to have an openness to his decision-making that differed from his papal predecessors.
—
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The difference between van der Heyden and his predecessors is that his work is all aboveboard.
—John Semley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2025
Knauf joined Earthshot as CEO immediately and will work with his predecessor in the coming months of transition.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Smith, though, applies the moniker more readily to his predecessors who ventured heroically into the relative unknown.
—Julia Boatman, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The difference between van der Heyden and his predecessors is that his work is all aboveboard.
—John Semley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2025
Knauf joined Earthshot as CEO immediately and will work with his predecessor in the coming months of transition.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Smith, though, applies the moniker more readily to his predecessors who ventured heroically into the relative unknown.
—Julia Boatman, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessor
Noun
-
Yet this brand of Christian Zionism is clearly the forerunner to today’s – and holds sway in Washington.—
Shalom Goldman,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The title is an apt, if sort of obvious, introduction to Turner, who has been hailed as the forerunner to modern art.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Until recently, the ancestors of insects were thought to be more millipede-like and evolved once invertebrates began to live on land.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
-
During the Pleistocene, our ancestors lived through several different ice ages.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, neighborhoods would no longer be required — as a precursor to meters — to test out two-hour and three-hour parking zones enforced by chalking tires instead of meters.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Directed by Arthur Penn, who brought a bold visual style, frank sexuality and graphic, balletic violence to a Hollywood dominated by optimistic pictures, this countercultural romance served as a precursor to the generational tension and mistrust in authority that was quietly pervading the country.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessor. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share