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predecessor

pred·e·ces·sor

predecessor

 
 
pronunciation:
pri dih se sr [or] pre dih se sr
features:
Word Combinations (noun)
part of speech: noun
definition 1: one who holds a position, job, or the like prior to another.
Unlike her predecessor, she liked to keep her office neat and organized.The new king reversed the reform policies established by his predecessor.
synonyms:
forerunner, precursor
antonyms:
successor
similar words:
antecedent
definition 2: an earlier form of something, or something that has been largely replaced by something else.
The hammered dulcimer was a predecessor of the piano.
synonyms:
ancestor, antecedent, forerunner, precursor
similar words:
archetype, prototype
definition 3: a forebear or ancestor.
Our predecessors came to this country seeking safety and prosperity.
synonyms:
ancestor, forebear, forefather, progenitor
antonyms:
descendant
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