predecessor
/'pri:disesə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who held a position or office before the current holder: This refers specifically to someone who came earlier in a sequence of roles, such as in a job, political office, or other formal position.
- A thing that has been followed or replaced by another: This can refer to an earlier model, version, or iteration of an object, system, or idea.
- An ancestor or forerunner in a family, lineage, or field: This broader sense refers to someone or something that came before in time and paved the way.
Examples of Usage
- Referring to a person in a role:
- The new manager studied the reports written by her predecessor.
- The president's policies were quite different from those of his predecessor.
- Referring to a thing that was replaced:
- This smartphone is much faster than its predecessor.
- The new law is an improvement over its flawed predecessor.
- Referring to an ancestor or forerunner:
- Modern computers have their predecessors in mechanical calculating machines.
Advanced Usage
- "Immediate predecessor": The person or thing directly before the current one in a sequence.
- She took over the project from her immediate predecessor last month.
- In formal or historical contexts, "predecessor" can be used to discuss lineage or the evolution of ideas.
- Darwin's theories had their predecessors in earlier works on natural philosophy.
Variants and Related Words
- Precede (verb): To come before in time, order, or position.
- A period of calm often precedes a storm.
- Precedence (noun): The condition of being considered more important; priority.
- Safety must take precedence over speed.
- Preceding (adjective): Existing, happening, or coming before.
- Refer to the preceding chapter for more details.
Synonyms
- Forerunner: One that precedes and indicates the approach of another; a predecessor.
- Antecedent: A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.
- Precursor: A person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.
Antonyms
- Successor: A person or thing that succeeds another.
- He named his daughter as his successor in the family business.
- Follower: One that comes after.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Stand on the shoulders of giants": This idiom implies making progress by building on the discoveries and work of one's predecessors.
- Modern scientists stand on the shoulders of their predecessors.
- "Follow in someone's footsteps": To do the same thing as someone else, especially a predecessor, did before.
- She followed in her predecessor's footsteps by focusing on community outreach.
Noun
- something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
- one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)