succession

noun

suhk-SESH-uhn/səkˈsɛʃ.ən/

Pluralsuccessions

9 meanings of succession

Practice

1
nounusually singular
A number of things that come one after another in order.
Like train cars linked one behind the next, each following the one before.
A succession of sunny days made the whole week feel like summer.
We faced one problem after another in quick succession.
Similarseries, sequence, string, chain
2
noununcountable
The act of one thing coming right after another.
Like taking turns in a line, each person going right after the one before.
The team won four games in succession this month.
He sneezed three times in succession.
Similarsequence, order
Note
3
nouncountable or uncountable
The passing of a throne or royal power from one ruler to the next.
Like handing a crown from one ruler to the next in turn.
The succession passed to the king's eldest daughter.
A dispute over the succession led to years of conflict.
4
noununcountable
The right to take ownership of property, often after someone dies.
Like being next in line to receive what someone leaves behind.
Her succession to the family estate was confirmed by the court.
He gave up his succession to the property.
Similarinheritance
5
nouncountable
A line of people descended from the same family over time.
Like the links of a chain, each generation joined to the one before.
She traced her family's succession back many centuries.
A long succession of farmers had worked the same land.
Similarline, lineage
6
noununcountable
The growing of different crops on the same land one after another.
Like taking turns planting, so the land always has something growing.
Good succession keeps the soil healthy from one season to the next.
Farmers plan their succession so the fields are never bare.
Similarrotation
Note
7
nouncountable
A set of rock layers stacked in the order they formed over time.
Like a stack of papers, the oldest at the bottom and the newest on top.
The cliff shows a clear succession of colored rock layers.
Geologists studied the succession exposed along the riverbank.
Similarsequence
8
nounhistoricaluncountable
Taking over another person's property in their place, under old Roman and Scottish law.
Like stepping into someone else's shoes and taking everything that comes with them.
By succession, the nephew took over his uncle's lands and debts.
The court recognized her succession to the deceased's property.
Note

Less common meaning

9
nounobsoletecountable
A person who takes over someone's rank, office, or property.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Old French from Latin succession, a noun.