noun

successor

suk-SES-er/səkˈsesər/

A person or thing that takes another's place in a role or position.

The manager trains her successor before she leaves the company.

An older white manager hands office keys to a younger Black woman taking over the role.

Etymology

sucLatinafter, next to

+cessLatingo, move

+orLatinone who

A successor is literally one who comes after. The underlying verb also meant taking another's place, connecting simple sequence with replacement in an office or role.

In context

History Before Sleep153:55

naming your successor is admitting you're going to die.

👑🕯️ Inside the Court of Elizabeth I — Secrets, Scandals, and Silent Wars 🌙 | History for Sleep

More examples

The board names a successor to the retiring president.
This camera is the successor to our most popular model.
His successors continue the tradition he started.

Forms

successor · successors

succeed verb — To take another person's role or position.

succession noun — The act of taking over another's position.

Similar words

replacement: May substitute temporarily rather than follow someone in office.
heir: Inherits property or a title rather than any role.