succession

American  

[suhk-sesh-uhn] / səkˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

• successions
  plural

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.

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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

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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

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Synonym Usage

See series.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• successions
  plural

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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” ( see succeed) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

Use the word succession to describe things that follow one another, as well as the order in which they do so. The Vice President is first in line of succession to be the President and the Secretary of State is fourth. Sometimes when a leader dies, the one who rules after him is determined not by law as in the U.S. or blood as in a monarchy but by the dying leader himself. Dictators often groom one of their sons for succession. Figuratively, you can use succession to indicate that one thing after another has come and gone without taking hold. The storefront has been home to a succession of businesses, all of which have failed. Fashions come and go in quick succession.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

succession successions

Those measurements reveal a long-term decline that accelerated during the 2000s, leading to a succession of exceptionally low ice levels.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

You need a succession plan, and your estate-planning documents should align with that succession plan.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

Shaw was born in 1837 in Dartmouth, Mass. His wealthy parents, Francis and Sarah, were ardent abolitionists who migrated to a succession of like-minded communities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Much has been made of Australia's ageing side and a perceived lack of succession planning.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

She ate a dozen mouthfuls in quick succession, then rinsed her mouth out again.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Or soon—sooner than they think, according to the author of a recently published book about CEO successions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

The timing of deliberations, which has not been previously reported, shines fresh light on the status of one the most closely watched CEO successions on Wall Street.

From Reuters ● Jun. 29, 2023

On that day, every cell in your body stretched and compressed in four quick successions, as did the atoms of everything else on Earth and in our solar system.

From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2022

His short stint in the role contrasts with Leahy’s reign that stretched over two decades, outlasting other executives at the top of Airbus and a line of successions at Boeing.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2018

Somewhere there was an actual arsenal, but it was closed off behind successions of sealed mesarthium doors, and anyway, Minya thought knives appropriate tools for butchery.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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Related Words

• cycle
• progression
• series
• string

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