successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows

especially : one who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Examples of successor in a Sentence

The CEO's successor used to be the vice president here.

the successor to the throne

Recent Examples on the Web

The session, which ends Friday, also will include the election of a successor to Bach, whose 12-year tenure comes to an end in June. —Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2025

While Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, are identified as Hackman's children in the will, the actor appointed Arakawa Hackman as the sole successor to his trust and estate. —EW.com, 16 Mar. 2025

Trump had already withdrawn from one arms-control treaty with Russia and then refused to renew the only remaining one, leaving the extension to his successor, Joe Biden. —Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025

So Far Yet, despite being the ideal role-playing game — one that should (theoretically) be easy enough to replicate — there’s never been a true sequel, spiritual successor, or flat-out copy that can live up to the standard. —Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English successour, from Anglo-French, from Latin successor, from succedere

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for successor

• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar
• oppressor
• possessor
• processor
• professor
• repressor

Kids Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈses-ər 

: one that follows

especially : a person who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Legal Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows : one that succeeds another (as in a position, title, office, or estate)