noun
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a person or thing that follows, esp a person who succeeds another in an office
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logic the element related to a given element by a serial ordering, esp the natural number next larger to a given one. The successor of n is n + 1, usually written Sn or n′
Other Word Forms
- successoral adjective
Etymology
Origin of successor
1250–1300; < Latin, equivalent to succed-, variant stem of succēdere to succeed + -tor -tor, with dt > ss; replacing Middle English successour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Trump is considering nominating EPA head Lee Zeldin as Bondi’s successor, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
All of this means it's unlikely the station had begun exploring the process of finding a successor.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Powell said earlier this month he would stay on as “chair pro tempore” if no successor is confirmed by then, and that he wouldn’t leave the board until the probe ends.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
Would the successor to the coin-toss be any less cruel?
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
The Giver needed a successor, and he had been chosen.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
