predecessor

CEFRB2

/ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/

noun

Türkçe translations

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In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A person or thing that came before another in the same role.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.

Examples

  • I intend to follow my predecessor's policy.

  • The new president reversed many of the policies of his predecessor.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈpɹɛd.ə.sɛs.ɚ/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A vertex having a directed path to another vertex

  2. One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

More examples

In context

  • We like the present headmaster better than his predecessor.

  • The steam engine was the predecessor of diesel and electric locomotives.

  • I thought about my predecessor, who had died of drink and smoke; and I could have wished he had been so good as to live, and not bother me with his decease.

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English predecessour, from Old French predecesseor (“forebear”), from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + Latin dēcessor (“retiring officer”), from Latin dēcēdō (“to retire, to die”) (English decease).