1
as in grandfather
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent
Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancestor
Capes were an homage to the ones worn by his shepherd ancestors, who practiced transhumance in the Caucasus for centuries, reworked by Gassanoff in a sheer chiffon-like fabric or in a thick wool version, both with very structured silhouettes.
—
Alberto Calabrese, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
Another ancestor had been on the Hudson River, in 1804, when Alexander Hamilton was being rowed back to Manhattan after his duel with Aaron Burr.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
Hungary Hungary offers an expedited process, particularly for those with Hungarian-speaking ancestors, according to International Living’s report.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In the roughly three decades prior to 2024, the Columbus institution had returned fewer than 20 ancestors to tribes.
—Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Alberto Calabrese, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
Another ancestor had been on the Hudson River, in 1804, when Alexander Hamilton was being rowed back to Manhattan after his duel with Aaron Burr.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
Hungary Hungary offers an expedited process, particularly for those with Hungarian-speaking ancestors, according to International Living’s report.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In the roughly three decades prior to 2024, the Columbus institution had returned fewer than 20 ancestors to tribes.
—Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
Noun
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Journalism is part of my heritage: My great great grandfather was a Civil War correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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Not only with the union, but with many beyond the company’s workers – including its retirees and a much larger number of voters spread across the industrial Midwest who remember the company’s former might, when their fathers, grandfathers or even great-grandfathers worked there.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In 1914, Frank Newman opened the Royal Theatre which was a forerunner to movie palaces in the city, a significant departure from nickelodeons.—
Michael Wells,
Kansas City Star,
28 Feb. 2025
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Hammond, the school’s forerunner, won its fourth straight 3A sectional title in 2008.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There are implications that the two central fathers of the piece have clashed before, though the more jarring examples of tangential threads concern a performing troupe with whom Tornado has a pre-existing relationship.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2025
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The feud kicked off in December 2024 when Bregoli accused Alabama of trying to steal her boyfriend, Le Vaughn (the father of her 11-month-old daughter, Kali Love), in an Instagram Story.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Planned a year in advance, essentially right after the previous Oscars ceremony has wrapped, the glamorous precursor to Hollywood’s biggest night comes together thanks to a production team filled with hard-working, movie-loving craftspeople.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
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The polyp stage is a precursor to the medusa stage, Folino-Rorem said, when jellyfish are more visible.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In 1971, for example, the commission's predecessor issued a license to General Electric Company to store nuclear waste at a standalone facility.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2025
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By comparison, Trump's recent predecessors each issued more appeals for congressional action.—
Geoffrey Skelley,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Several trials later, her first bioplastic prototypes were born.—
Carly Kay,
The Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2025
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But things changed after Kate Moss was seen with a rare prototype, and Le Dix Motorcycle Lariat, eventually known as Le City bag, came out in 2001.—
Kin Woo,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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