Ask Difference

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.
Predecessor vs. Successor — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Predecessor and Successor

ADVERTISEMENT

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
ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Program vs. Activity
Next Comparison
Act vs. Bill

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba 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.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms