as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
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Recent Examples of predecessor
Her predecessor, Martinez, did not have classroom experience, but had formerly served as the district’s chief financial officer.
—
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Like his predecessor Bill Nelson, Isaacman is determined to beat China to the finish line and win this second space race.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
That eighth place last season was the second-highest in the club’s history, having come sixth under predecessor Roberto De Zerbi in 2022-23 to qualify for Europe for the first time.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Fielder’s predecessor, Hillary Ronen, also shared a message of support, as did a few other allies.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Like his predecessor Bill Nelson, Isaacman is determined to beat China to the finish line and win this second space race.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
That eighth place last season was the second-highest in the club’s history, having come sixth under predecessor Roberto De Zerbi in 2022-23 to qualify for Europe for the first time.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Fielder’s predecessor, Hillary Ronen, also shared a message of support, as did a few other allies.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predecessor
Noun
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Williams had managed traditional Tex-Mex restaurants that were the forerunner of today’s Mercado Juarez Cafes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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The camp is a program of the Woodcraft Rangers, founded by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, whose pioneering Woodcraft Rangers program was a forerunner to groups such as the Boy Scouts.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Norman Wong, a descendant of Wong Kim Ark, poses for a portrait in front of a mural of his late ancestor, in San Francisco.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Northern Cheyenne chief Little Wolf exemplified this resolve in the 1860s and ’70s, leading his people in many different battles to defend the North Country of his ancestors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In March, state media reported that China arrested seven people in an operation targeting traffickers of fentanyl precursors, according to the Reuters news agency.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The mission is a precursor to future Artemis launches that will rehearse rendezvous and docking maneuvers with the program's lunar landers, and eventually land astronauts on the lunar surface.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predecessor. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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