predecessor
Pluralpredecessors
- 1The person who held a job or position before the one who came after.
Like the older child who finishes a chore before the next one takes a turn.
The new principal thanked her predecessor for years of hard work.
My predecessor left clear notes about how the office runs.
Similarancestor
Oppositesuccessor
Note
- 2An older model of a machine or device that came before a newer one.
Like an old TV that gets replaced by a newer, better one.
This phone is much faster than its predecessor.
The new engine fixes many problems found in its predecessor.
Similarforerunner, precursor, antecedent
Oppositesuccessor
Note
- 3In graph math, a point that has an arrow-path leading to another point.
Like an earlier step in a recipe that you must do before you reach a later step.
In this diagram, point A is a predecessor of point C, since you can follow the arrows from A to C.
Any point with arrows leading toward the goal counts as a predecessor of it.
Oppositesuccessor
Note
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin words meaning 'before' and 'one who retires.' The Latin verb behind it meant 'to retire' or 'to die,' which also gives English 'decease.'