noun
Common
successor
suhk-SEH-suh
Successor (noun) means a person or thing that follows and takes the place of another. Example: “After the headteacher retired, her successor introduced a new timetable.”
noun
1
A person or thing that follows and takes the place of another.
"George W. Bush was successor to Bill Clinton as President of the US."
"After the headteacher retired, her successor introduced a new timetable."
"The board is searching for a successor to the retiring CEO."
"The new model is the successor to last year's bestselling phone."
"As Di Matteo celebrated and captain John Terry raised the trophy for the fourth time, the Italian increased his claims to become the permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas by landing a trophy."
— Phil McNulty, Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (2012)
How to use successor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhoever or whatever comes next and takes over from the previous one.
Common mistake
A successor comes after; a predecessor came before — easy to mix up.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
name a successor
chosen successor
successor to the throne
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like successor.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- successors
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the headteacher retired, her _____ introduced a new timetable.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman successour, from Latin successor.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for successor
See all rhymes for 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.
