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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
If you are successor to the throne, that means you're next in line when the current royal has to step down. The successor takes over when someone gives up a position or title or when something becomes outdated. The noun successor was first used in the 13th century to mean "one who comes after." It's often used in reference to a royal court, where the successor is usually the king's eldest son. If something happens to the U.S. president, the vice president is the designated successor and will assume the position of head of government. It seems like every day there's a new and improved computer, a successor that replaces an earlier model.
Vocabulary lists containing successor
The Giver
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"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
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The City of Ember
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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.
At Berkshire Hathaway he had been a possible successor to Warren Buffett, but the job ultimately went to Greg Abel.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Sir Keir's decision to publish the DIP in his final weeks as prime minister could cause tension with his successor, who may want to revise defence spending when they take over.
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026
Income that he might have inherited when he became King is also unknown, as royal wills are kept secret and there is no inheritance tax between a monarch and their successor.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
“But we have exceptional women and my successor may very well be a woman, but it may not. And it really depends on the circumstance at the time.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
It did indeed turn into the trusty guitar in due course, but not before it had cross-fertilised with another medieval instrument, the citole, whose chief successor in England was unhelpfully called the cittern.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
