succession

American  

[suhk-sesh-uhn] / səkˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

1. the coming of one person or thing after another in order, sequence, or in the course of events.

   many troubles in succession.

2. a number of persons or things following one another in order or sequence.

3. the right, act, or process, by which one person succeeds to the office, rank, estate, or the like, of another.

4. the order or line of those entitled to succeed one another.

5. the descent or transmission of a throne, dignity, estate, or the like.

6. Also called ecological succession.  Ecology. the progressive replacement of one community by another until a climax community is established.

---

succession British  

/ səkˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of one person or thing following another

2. a number of people or things following one another in order

3. the act, process, or right by which one person succeeds to the office, etc, of another

4. the order that determines how one person or thing follows another

5. a line of descent to a title, etc

6. ecology the sum of the changes in the composition of a community that occur during its development towards a stable climax community

7. in a manner such that one thing is followed uninterruptedly by another

---

succession Scientific  

/ sək-sĕsh′ən /

1. 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.

2. ◆ 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.

3. ◆ 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.

4. See more at climax community

---

Related Words

See series.

Other Word Forms

• nonsuccession noun
• nonsuccessional adjective
• nonsuccessionally adverb
• successional adjective
• successionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of succession

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin successiōn- (stem of successiō ) “a following (someone) in office,” equivalent to success(us), past participle of succēdere “to succeed” ( succeed ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The comments are her clearest on the issue -- the subject of increasing debate as a succession crisis looms -- since her party's landslide election victory this month.

From Barron's

But they are more circumspect about those other requests, while saying they want to press on "at pace" in removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.

From BBC

That strategy hit a roadblock in federal court, as a succession of rulings invalidated his attempt to revive the policy under different laws.

From The Wall Street Journal

All of his children hold positions within the group, though ultimate succession plans remain uncertain.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet, in recent years, the museum has also found itself grappling with a succession of disruptions that have exposed the challenges of managing one of the world’s most prominent cultural sites.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cycle
• progression
• series
• string