noun
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a person or thing that follows, esp a person who succeeds another in an office
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logic the element related to a given element by a serial ordering, esp the natural number next larger to a given one. The successor of n is n + 1, usually written Sn or n′
Other Word Forms
- successoral adjective
Etymology
Origin of successor
1250–1300; < Latin, equivalent to succed-, variant stem of succēdere to succeed + -tor -tor, with dt > ss; replacing Middle English successour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Trump is considering nominating EPA head Lee Zeldin as Bondi’s successor, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
Powell’s nominated successor, Kevin Warsh, hasn’t yet been confirmed by the Senate.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
He announced in January that he planned to step down again once a successor was identified.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
His successor Chris Large exited as leader of the Reform group on the council, citing a bereavement.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
But Nurse was dead and Yezzan too sick to name a successor.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
