Synonyms for predecessor
Most common
forerunner precursor antecedent progenitor ancestor forefather
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Forerunner
forerunner, precursor, antecedent, progenitor, herald, harbinger, foregoer
2. Ancestor — one who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows…
ancestor, forefather, antecessor dated rare
Other
elder, foreganger dated rare
Definitions
- n. 1
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
- n. 2
A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.
The steam engine was the predecessor of diesel and electric locomotives.
Related words
- Word family
- predecessive
- Is a kind of
- precursor
Forms
- Plural
- predecessors → forerunners, precursors, antecedents, progenitors…
Example sentences
- forerunner Alchemy was the forerunner of modern chemistry.
- progenitor The progenitor of the human race was named Tom.
- antecedent Alchemy was the antecedent of chemistry.
- forefather Abraham was correct and the forefather of many.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| predecessor | steady | |
| forerunner | falling | |
| progenitor | rising | |
| antecedent | steady | |
| foregoer | steady | |
| forefather | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- elder2
- 6 letters
- herald2
- 8 letters
- ancestor3, foregoer
- 9 letters
- precursor3, harbinger3
- 10 letters
- forerunner3, progenitor4, antecedent4, forefather3, antecessor, foreganger
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (elder2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- prédécesseur
- Deutsch
- Vorgänger