Word
supersede
Phoneticssu·per·sede, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌsupɝˈsid/
UK/sˈuːpəsˌiːd/
Españolsubseguir
Definition
v. to take the place of something old and replace it with something newer or better.
v. to replace or displace something older with something newer, more effective, or more authoritative. Often implies official or systematic replacement rather than casual substitution.
Examples
“New rules supersede the old guidelines from last year.”
“The updated safety manual supersedes all previous versions issued before January.”
“Once digital archives superseded paper records, researchers could search decades of correspondence in seconds rather than days.”
Examples
simple
“New rules supersede the old guidelines from last year.”
contextual
“The updated safety manual supersedes all previous versions issued before January.”
complex
“Once digital archives superseded paper records, researchers could search decades of correspondence in seconds rather than days.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “supersede” in context.
Verb
01. effectively supersede
“New safety regulations effectively supersede all previous guidelines.”
adv + verb
02. eventually supersede
“Digital streaming will eventually supersede physical media entirely.”
adv + verb
03. largely supersede
“The traditional postal system has been largely superseded by electronic mail.”
adv + verb
Noun
04. supersede by law
“The 1998 act was superseded by law when the new constitution was ratified.”
verb + prep + noun
05. supersede by technology
“Many manual labor roles are being superseded by technology.”
verb + prep + noun
06. be superseded by events
“The original plan for the project was quickly superseded by events on the ground.”
07. largely superseded by the
“Handwritten ledgers have been largely superseded by the use of spreadsheets.”
08. supersede the need for
“The new software will supersede the need for manual data entry.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“In a decision on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan said Kalshi did not deserve a preliminary injunction, because the federal Commodity Exchange Act did not supersede New York's gambling laws as applied to Kalshi’s sports-event contracts.” “U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to enact legislation that would supersede state rules on AI.” “The global organisation overseeing their use has said a more powerful alternative will be readable by retailers everywhere within two years, meaning the zebra-striped tag that has become ubiquitous over the last 50 years could be superseded.” “Under the Constitution, the people of the United States are sovereign, and this sovereignty supersedes the sovereignty of the people of the individual states whenever the privileges and immunities of the former are in conflict with the will of the latter.” Etymology
From Middle French superseder (“postpone, defer”), from Latin supersedēre, from super (“over”) + sedēre (“to sit”). The meaning “to replace” is from 1642, probably by association with unrelated precede – note that c instead of s (from cēdere (“to yield”), not sedēre (“to sit”)). As a result, supercede is a common misspelling – see therein for further discussion. Doublet of surcease.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/supersede
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0