Word
predecessor
Phoneticspre·de·ces·sor, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹɛdəˌsɛsɝ/
UK/pɹˈiːdɪsˌɛsɐ/
Definitions
01previous person in a role
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. the person who had a job or position before the person who has it now.
n. a person who held a specific office or position before the current holder.
日本語:先代※
“The new manager changed many of the rules that her predecessor had created.”
“The incoming prime minister was careful not to openly criticise his predecessor, despite the significant policy shifts he intended to implement.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02an earlier model
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. an older version of a machine, tool, or system.
n. a model or type of machinery or device that precedes the current version, often implying the earlier one is now outdated.
日本語:先代※
“This new smartphone is much faster than its predecessor.”
“While the current turbine is highly efficient, its predecessor suffered from frequent mechanical failures during high-wind conditions.”
Antonyms
03graph theory
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a point in a diagram that comes before another point along a path.
n. a vertex in a directed graph that has a directed path to another specific vertex.
“In this flow chart, point A is the predecessor of point B.”
“The algorithm must identify every predecessor of the target node before it can calculate the shortest path through the network.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “predecessor” in context.
Verb
01. differ from a predecessor
“The current administration's foreign policy differs sharply from that of its predecessor.”
verb + prep + noun
02. outperform a predecessor
“The latest smartphone model significantly outperforms its predecessor in battery life.”
verb + noun
03. succeed a predecessor
“The new CEO will succeed her predecessor at the end of the fiscal year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. distinguished predecessor
“She paid tribute to her distinguished predecessor during her inaugural speech.”
adj + noun
05. illustrious predecessor
“The young conductor felt the pressure of following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor.”
adj + noun
06. immediate predecessor
“He inherited a complex set of legal challenges from his immediate predecessor.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. role of the predecessor
“The role of the predecessor was to stabilize the company before the merger.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Even today, with gen Z drinking far less than their predecessors, you still see similar scenes on the underground, although at 4am the train rattles along more quietly, carrying more wreckage.” “As Zambians go to the polls on Thursday, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections.” “The BMA said he had showed "the same unwillingness to move" as his predecessor, the former health secretary Wes Streeting.” Etymology
From Middle English predecessour, from Old French predecesseor (“forebear”), from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + Latin dēcessor (“retiring officer”), from Latin dēcēdō (“I retire, I die”) (English decease).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/predecessor
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0