Predecessor vs. Successor — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
A Predecessor is someone or something that came before another, while a Successor is someone or something that follows or replaces another.
Difference Between Predecessor and Successor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Predecessor and Successor are relational terms, each offering context to positions in time or sequence. A Predecessor typically represents what was before or what laid the foundation, indicating a preceding entity. Contrarily, Successor suggests a following entity, denoting what comes after or replaces the previous.
While considering roles or positions, a Predecessor is the entity that occupied the role before the current entity. For instance, in the realm of CEOs, a company's prior CEO is the Predecessor. The Successor, in this context, is the one who assumes the position after the previous CEO, indicating continuation.
These terms also resonate within the scope of products or technology. A Predecessor, in this sense, is the prior version or model of a product. On the other hand, the Successor represents the new or upgraded version, expected to carry forward or enhance the legacy of its predecessor.
When it comes to family lineage or monarchies, a Predecessor might refer to the preceding monarch or ancestor. The Successor, then, points to the next in line or the one who inherits the position or legacy. In every context, these terms maintain their inherent quality: Predecessor looks to the past, while Successor gazes towards the future.
Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Came before another
Follows or replaces another
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Temporal Context
Looks to the past
Gazes towards the future
Positional Role
Previously occupied role
Assumes role after predecessor
Product Evolution
Prior version or model
New or upgraded version
Family Lineage
Preceding ancestor or monarch
Next in line or inheritor
Compare with Definitions
Predecessor
The antecedent of a particular event or outcome.
The initial research was a Predecessor to the discovery.
Successor
A product or version that comes after and often replaces an earlier one.
The latest model is the Successor to last year's design.
Predecessor
An ancestor or forebear.
His grandmother was a Predecessor in the family business.
Successor
One who inherits property, title, or position.
She was named as her father's Successor in the will.
Predecessor
One who held a position or role before another.
The former president was her Predecessor.
Successor
The next in line for a position, especially in royalty or family business.
The prince is the Successor to the throne.
Predecessor
A previous model or version of something.
The iPhone 11 is the Predecessor to the iPhone 12.
Successor
Something that succeeds or follows as a result.
The aftermath was the Successor to the event.
Predecessor
Something that precedes in time or order.
The prototype was the Predecessor to the final product.
Successor
One who follows and replaces another in a role or position.
The new manager was the Successor to Mrs. Smith.
Predecessor
One who precedes another in time, especially in holding an office or position.
Successor
A person or thing that succeeds another
Schoenberg saw himself as a natural successor to the German romantic school
Predecessor
Something that has been succeeded by another
The new building is more spacious than its predecessor.
Successor
One that succeeds another.
Predecessor
An ancestor; a forebear.
Successor
A person or thing that immediately follows another in holding an office or title.
George W. Bush was successor to Bill Clinton as President of the US.
Predecessor
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
Successor
The next heir in order or succession.
Predecessor
A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.
The steam engine was the predecessor of diesel and electric locomotives.
Successor
A person who inherits a title or office.
Predecessor
(mathematics) A vertex having a directed path to another vertex
Successor
The integer, ordinal number or cardinal number immediately following another.
A limit ordinal is not the successor of any ordinal.
Predecessor
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state.
Successor
One who succeeds or follows; one who takes the place which another has left, and sustains the like part or character; - correlative to predecessor; as, the successor of a deceased king.
A gift to a corporation, either of lands or of chattels, without naming their successors, vests an absolute property in them so lond as the corporation subsists.
Predecessor
One who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
Successor
A person who follows next in order;
He was President Lincoln's successor
Successor
A thing or person that immediately replaces something or someone
Successor
A person who inherits some title or office
Common Curiosities
Can one be both a Predecessor and Successor?
Contextually, yes. One can be a Successor to one entity and a Predecessor to another.
Can "Predecessor" and "Successor" refer to non-human entities?
Yes, they can refer to things like products, models, or versions.
How are these terms used in technology?
Often to denote versions, where an older version is the Predecessor and the newer one is its Successor.
Is "heir" synonymous with "Successor"?
In contexts of inheritance, yes. An heir is a type of Successor.
Is "antecedent" synonymous with "Predecessor"?
Generally, yes, both suggest something that came before.
Are there opposite terms to these?
Not directly, but the Predecessor is opposite to the Successor in sequence.
Can you use these terms in the context of ideas or methodologies?
Yes. An older methodology can be a Predecessor to a new approach, its Successor.
Do these terms always indicate direct sequence?
Typically, yes. A Predecessor is directly followed by its Successor.
Can events have Predecessors and Successors?
Yes. A prior event can be the Predecessor to a subsequent one.
Do "Predecessor" and "Successor" imply any quality assessment?
No, they denote sequence, not superiority or inferiority.
In lineages, who comes first?
The Predecessor comes first, followed by the Successor.
How do these terms relate to time periods?
An earlier time period is a Predecessor to a later one, its Successor.
Is there a space between Predecessors and Successors?
Typically, no. They indicate a direct sequence or transition.
How are these terms used in business?
Often to describe roles. A retiring CEO's Predecessor and the incoming CEO's Successor.
Can the Successor go back to methods of its Predecessor?
Yes, Successors might adopt or adapt attributes from their Predecessors.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
