succession
the coming of one person or thing after another in order, sequence, or in the course of events: many troubles in succession.
a number of persons or things following one another in order or sequence.
the right, act, or process, by which one person succeeds to the office, rank, estate, or the like, of another.
the order or line of those entitled to succeed one another.
the descent or transmission of a throne, dignity, estate, or the like.
Also called ecological succession. Ecology. the progressive replacement of one community by another until a climax community is established.
Origin of succession
1synonym study For succession
Other words from succession
- suc·ces·sion·al, adjective
- suc·ces·sion·al·ly, adverb
- non·suc·ces·sion, noun
- non·suc·ces·sion·al, adjective
- non·suc·ces·sion·al·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use succession in a sentence
It will be observed that no account is here given of the geological ages or of the successions of organic life.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate ShalerIt contains nothing notable, except perhaps the descending chromatic successions of chords of the sixth.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician | Frederick NiecksWhat more welcome to men under personal afflictions, tiring duty, successions of sufferings, than rest?
The Worlds Greatest Books, Volume XIII. | VariousPot a portion of the strongest successions for early forcing next season.
In-Door Gardening for Every Week in the Year | William KeaneNo rectitude of ledger-lines stood in his way; no tender precision of household customs; no calm successions of rural labour.
British Dictionary definitions for succession
/ (səkˈsɛʃən) /
the act or an instance of one person or thing following another
a number of people or things following one another in order
the act, process, or right by which one person succeeds to the office, etc, of another
the order that determines how one person or thing follows another
a line of descent to a title, etc
ecology the sum of the changes in the composition of a community that occur during its development towards a stable climax community
in succession in a manner such that one thing is followed uninterruptedly by another
Origin of succession
1Derived forms of succession
- successional, adjective
- successionally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for succession
[ sək-sĕsh′ən ]
The gradual replacement of one type of ecological community by another in the same area, involving a series of orderly changes, especially in the dominant vegetation. Succession is usually initiated by a significant disturbance of an existing community. Each succeeding community modifies the physical environment, as by introducing shade or changing the fertility or acidity of the soil, creating new conditions that benefit certain species and inhibit others until a climax community is established.♦ The sequential development of plant and animal communities in an area in which no topsoil exists, as on a new lava flow, is called primary succession.♦ The development of such communities in an area that has been disturbed but still retains its topsoil, as in a burned-over area, is called secondary succession. See more at climax community.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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