C1noun3K

Successor

UK /["/səkˈsesə(r)/"]/US /["/səkˈsesər/"]/

Definition

a person or thing that comes after somebody/something else and takes their/its place

In simple words: A person who takes over a position or role after someone else.

Examples

  • Who's the likely successor to him as party leader?
  • Their latest release is a **worthy successor** to their popular debut album.
  • He chose as his successor a relative newcomer to the organization.
  • She has been appointed as his successor.
  • She will hand over to her successor in one year's time.
  • The former newsreader is being tipped as a possible successor to the outgoing Head of Broadcasting.
  • The new Ministry of Food is the successor to the old Department of Agriculture.

Usage notes

Use in contexts like business, politics, or family. It’s appropriate when discussing someone taking over a role, but not used in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

successor + (to + noun)

Memory hint

Think 'suc-cessor' as one who succeeds someone else’s role.

Collocations

  • logical
  • natural
  • obvious
  • have
  • appoint
  • choose
  • take over
  • as somebody’s successor
  • successor as
  • successor to
  • the appointment of a successor
  • the choice of a successor
  • the election of a successor

Synonyms

  • heir
  • follower
  • replacement
  • successor
  • next in line

Antonyms

  • predecessor

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'predecessor' which means the one before.
  • Using it in informal situations where it doesn’t fit.
  • Spelling mistakes, such as 'sucessor'.