successor
7 synonyms and 1 antonyms for successor, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person or thing that follows and takes the place of another.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use successor
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman successour, from Latin successor.
Full origin of successor →Frequently asked questions
What does “successor” mean?
The word “successor” means a person or thing that follows and takes the place of another. In plain terms, whoever or whatever comes next and takes over from the previous one.
How do you pronounce “successor”?
“Successor” is pronounced suhk-SEH-suh (/səkˈsɛsɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “successor” in a sentence?
Here is “successor” used in a sentence: “The board is searching for a successor to the retiring CEO.”
What is another word for “successor”?
Words with a similar meaning to “successor” include heir, succeeder and successour.
What is the opposite of “successor”?
The opposite of “successor” — its antonyms — is predecessor.
What part of speech is “successor”?
“Successor” is a noun.
Where does the word “successor” come from?
The word “successor” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman successour, from Latin successor.
Is “successor” a common word?
“Successor” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between successor and predecessor?
A successor is the person or thing that follows and takes the place of another, while a predecessor is the one who held the position or existed before. In a company, the outgoing manager is the new manager's predecessor, and the new manager is the outgoing one's successor.
What is the difference between successor and heir?
An heir inherits property, money, or a title, usually through family relationship or legal right. A successor simply follows and takes over a role or position, however they were chosen, so a CEO's successor may be appointed rather than related. An heir to a throne becomes the monarch's successor when they actually take over.
Is it "successor to" or "successor of"?
Both prepositions are used, but "successor to" is the more common and idiomatic pattern, especially with roles, titles, and products, as in "the successor to the throne" or "the successor to the popular original model." "Successor of" appears mainly when naming the person succeeded, as in "the successor of the retiring judge."
What is a successor in maths?
In mathematics, the successor of a whole number is the number that comes immediately after it, obtained by adding one. The successor of 4 is 5, and this successor idea is used to build up the natural numbers in formal arithmetic.