supersede
Americanverb (used with object)
-
supersedes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
superseded,
past participle, past
-
superseding
present participle
-
to replace in power, authority, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as by another person or thing.
-
to set aside or cause to be set aside as void, useless, irrelevant, or obsolete, usually in consideration of something mentioned.
The success of the vaccine superseded the necessity of a smallpox hospital, and the enterprise was abandoned almost as soon as conceived.
-
to succeed to the position, function, office, etc., of; supplant.
verb
-
to take the place of (something old-fashioned or less appropriate); supplant
-
to replace in function, office, etc; succeed
-
to discard or set aside or cause to be set aside as obsolete or inferior
Synonym Usage
See replace.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
supersedencenoun
-
supersedernoun
-
supersedurenoun
-
supersessionnoun
-
supersedableadjective
-
unsupersedingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
supersedesimple
-
supersedessimple
-
have supersededperfect
-
has supersededperfect
-
am supersedingprogressive
-
are supersedingprogressive
-
is supersedingprogressive
-
have been supersedingperfect progressive
-
has been supersedingperfect progressive
Past
-
supersededsimple
-
had supersededperfect
-
was supersedingprogressive
-
were supersedingprogressive
-
had been supersedingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of supersede
First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin supersedēre “to sit above or upon, forbear,” equivalent to super- super- + sedēre “to sit”; see sit 1
Explanation
When something supersedes, it takes the place of something else. The 5th edition of your history textbook supersedes the 4th edition. Most words that include super have something good going on. Supersede is from the 16th-century Latin for "sit on top," and it often means to replace with something better. A version 10 of a computer game will supersede, version 9, making it more exciting. Unfortunately, a person might be replaced too, as in "the younger running back will supersede the veteran player as he gets older." To supersede is generally a good thing, but being superseded is not always that great for the replaced person.
Vocabulary lists containing supersede
Grade 10, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ASVAB Word Knowledge
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Power Prefix: super-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Human judgment is going to supersede human expertise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
But through the first week of this year’s event, a question has intruded on the spectacle: When does atmosphere start to supersede tennis?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
Quantum computers will not supersede existing machines, as there are many tasks they are not suited to.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
But the US actions will "supersede" the Canadian case, Wednesday's statement said.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
Faction customs dictate even idle behavior and supersede individual preference.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
Grandi argues that the logic behind “survival, not indulgence” supersedes any emotional connections tied to the food.
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
District Judge Rodney Smith, a Trump appointee, said that the Epstein Files Transparency Act supersedes the normal bar on making the materials public.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
Like all service members, he has an obligation to the Constitution and the rule of law that supersedes following the orders of superiors.
From Slate ● Jan. 15, 2025
"We're trying to do the best we can to honour their lives and it's just muddied. That's what we're going to remember, it supersedes all the good memories."
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2024
He published various books on his method of instruction, but that published in 1784 virtually supersedes all others.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various
Liggett Group LLC, where the court agreed in part with the tobacco industry that the congressionally mandated surgeon general’s warning about cigarettes already superseded any state-based failure-to-warn claim.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
The fund superseded the Household Support Fund which was set up in response to the cost of living crisis, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
The man had "withholding of removal", a legal protection that is weaker than asylum but in the past has superseded someone's deportation order, allowing them to live and work in the United States.
From Barron's ● May 30, 2026
Church scorned French Impressionism as slapdash, and Ms. Johnson suggests that his work became less popular simply because it was superseded by a more innovative style.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
All human claims to the landscape were superseded, made null and void by the snow.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
In response, Chaudhry adjusted the priorities of his engineering team for about three months, with a focus on fixing critical and high-level vulnerabilities superseding the delivery of new functionality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
None of these proposals grapple with the full weight of how different our new era will be from the relatively placid one it is superseding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Pogacar's victory means he is positioned by many as the greatest cyclist of all time, superseding the achievements and status of Belgian legend Merckx.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Sassoon’s letter also reveals that her office was preparing a superseding indictment adding an “obstruction conspiracy count” to the charges against Adams.
From Slate ● Feb. 15, 2025
A couple of years afterwards, the Earl very plainly declared his colours by first inducing him to join him in his voyage, and then superseding him.
From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 2 by Frederick Whymper
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
