C1noun10K+

Predecessor

UK /["/ˈpriːdəsesə(r)/"]/US /["/ˈpredəsesər/"]/

Definition

a person who did a job before somebody else

In simple words: A person or thing that came before something else.

Examples

  • The new president reversed many of the policies of his predecessor.
  • her immediate predecessor in the post
  • my predecessor at the Ministry of Defence
  • This computer has a larger memory than its predecessor.

Usage notes

Used to refer to someone or something that existed or was in a position before another. It's suitable for formal contexts, such as discussions about history or job roles, but may not be common in everyday conversation.

Grammar pattern

predecessor + of + noun

Memory hint

Sounds like 'pre-deceded' — think of someone who led before!

Collocations

  • predecessor of
  • direct predecessor
  • historical predecessor

Synonyms

  • forerunner
  • antecedent
  • ancestor
  • precurser

Antonyms

  • successor

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'successor', which refers to who comes after.
  • Using 'predecessor' in informal contexts where it's not needed.
  • Incorrectly pluralizing as 'predecessors' when referring to one individual.