supersede

verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to be set aside

b

: to force out of use as inferior

2

: to take the place or position of

3

: to displace in favor of another

superseder noun

Did you know?

Language is constantly evolving, with old spellings and meanings superseded by new ones over time. Naturally, supersede itself has its share of predecessors. Supersede ultimately comes from the Latin verb supersedēre, meaning "to sit on top of" (sedēre means "to sit"), "to be superior to," or "to refrain from," but it came to English through Scots Middle English, where it was rendered superceden and used synonymously with defer. Modern English speakers are often confused about how to spell supersede—it sometimes turns up as supercede. In fact, some of the earliest records of the word in English show it spelled with a c. Though both spellings can be etymologically justified, over time supersede won out as the "correct" version.

Synonyms

• cut out
• displace
• displant
• relieve
• replace
• substitute
• supplant

Choose the Right Synonym for supersede

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supersede in a Sentence

Fortunately, the scientific enterprise has its own self-correcting mechanisms that eventually sort things out. Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results. Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies. —Harriet Hall, Skeptic, 2007

The ancient human carriers of information and understanding—elders, priests, bards, teachers, and community members—are superseded by a more durable and efficient medium, the printed word. —M. Rex Miller, The Millennium Matrix, 2004

Upgrading America's too-old, too-slow telephone network, which took about a century to build, is a massive task. But if you believe predictions that the Internet will one day supersede the telephone as the world's primary means of communications, these companies will be road kill if they simply sit by the wayside. —Bethany McLean, Fortune, 6 Dec. 1999

This edition supersedes the previous one.

Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.

Recent Examples on the Web

On the flipside, these thematic concepts often supersede the movie’s drama. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025

The superseding indictment did not directly name Brent Sikkema, but he is identified in other court documents filed in the case. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2025

Collins, who previously lobbied for ComEd, was hit with the new charge of filing a false tax return for the calendar year 2018 in a superseding indictment filed May 26, 2021 that added the allegations to a broader tax case. —Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

According to a superseding indictment unsealed Tuesday, Sikkema is also charged with one count each of murder for hire, conspiracy to commit murder or hire, and conspiracy to murder a person in a foreign country. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) superceden to defer, from Middle French superceder, from Latin supersedēre to sit on top, refrain from, from super- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for supersede

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• intercede
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• underfeed

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Kids Definition

supersede

verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

1

: to force out of use as inferior

2

: to take the place, room, or position of : replace

3

: to remove in favor of another

superseder noun

supersedure

-ˈsē-jər

noun

Etymology

Middle English superceden "to defer," from early French superceder, from Latin supersedēre "to sit on top of, refrain from," from super "over, above," and sedēre "to sit"

Legal Definition

supersede

transitive verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

1

: to subject to postponement or suspension

especially : to suspend the operation of (a judgment or order) by means of a supersedeas

2

: to take the place of in authority : preempt, override

3

: to take the place of and render null or ineffective