Definition

1. Noun:
   • A number of people or things following one after the other: A series or sequence of related events, objects, or people.
   • The action or process of inheriting a title, office, property, or rank: The right or act of succeeding someone in a position or role.
   • (Ecology) The process by which a plant or animal community successively gives way to another until a stable community is established: The gradual and orderly process of ecological change in an area.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The company reported a succession of profitable quarters. (A series of profitable periods.)
  • The succession to the throne is clearly defined by law. (The process of inheriting the throne.)
  • Ecologists studied the forest's succession after the fire. (The ecological process of change.)

Advanced Usage

• In quick/rapid succession: Happening one after another with very little time in between.
  • The boxer landed three punches in rapid succession.
• In succession to someone/something: Following and replacing someone or something in a role.
  • He was appointed chairman in succession to his predecessor.
• Line of succession: The official order of people who will inherit a position, especially a throne.
  • The prince is first in the line of succession.

Variants and Related Words

• Successive (adj): Following one another in an unbroken sequence.
  • It was their third successive victory.
• Successor (n): A person or thing that succeeds another.
  • She named her daughter as her successor.

Synonyms

• Sequence: A particular order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other.
• Series: A number of events, objects, or people of a similar kind coming one after another.
• Progression: The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Phrases

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its related concepts are expressed through prepositional phrases like "in succession.")

Related Idioms

• A succession of something: A series of similar things or events.
  • The team suffered a succession of injuries.
• Order of succession: The sequence of individuals entitled to hold a high office if it becomes vacant.
  • The constitution outlines the presidential order of succession.

Noun

1. acquisition of property by descent or by will
2. (ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
3. the action of following in order
   • he played the trumps in sequence
4. a group of people or things arranged or following in order
   • a succession of stalls offering soft drinks
   • a succession of failures
5. a following of one thing after another in time
   • the doctor saw a sequence of patients