ancestor

noun

ˈan-ˌse-stər How to pronounce ancestor (audio)
Definition of ancestornext
1
as in grandfather
a person who is several generations earlier in an individual's line of descent Bridie's Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States in the 19th century during the Great Potato Famine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed pinball machines—the ancestors of today's video games—go back to the 19th century

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ancestor For the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Virginia’s rivers, wetlands and landscapes are living connections to our ancestors and to the generations who will come after us. — Dana Adkins, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 Haredim who are Ashkenazi – Jews whose ancestors came from northern and eastern Europe – are linked to United Torah Judaism, or UTJ. — Hannah Ridge, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 Archeological records show their Algonquian-speaking ancestors arrived in the easternmost reaches of what is now Long Island about 10,000 years ago. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 Carter said the citation reminds him of one written for his ancestor in 1828 for unlawful assemblage. — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
  1. grandfather
  2. forerunner
  3. father
  4. precursor
  5. predecessor
  6. prototype
Noun
  • His grandparents owned restaurants and his grandfather was one of the first butchers to cut steaks for Morton Steakhouse.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The designer’s grandfather Mario and his brother Martino opened their luggage and luxury objects store under the Fratelli Prada banner 113 years ago in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of grandfather
Noun
  • Koslow’s screen career began in 1976 as the writer of the film Lifeguard, a ’70s-era Baywatch forerunner starring a hunky Sam Elliott and Anne Archer.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • My 80-year-old mother and 87-year-old father were singing Hindu prayers to celebrate one of the most important holidays of our faith.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Lozano Garita is the father of her two youngest children, relatives said.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of father
Noun
  • To fix the chemical interference, the research team added a decoupling modulator molecule featuring ammonium ions, iodide ions, and two sulfonate groups to the precursor solution.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This notorious commercial entity, a precursor of the global corporations of today and big enough to command its own army, ruthlessly exploited foreign resources, human and material.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of precursor
Noun
  • The figure appears to be higher than for Sorrells’ predecessors.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • It has been authorized at 5,500 troops with more aggressive rules of engagement than its predecessor.
    — Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of predecessor
Noun
  • Federal policy now allows businesses to deduct domestic research costs immediately, leaving more capital available for engineers, prototypes, and equipment.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • However, the device remains a laboratory prototype based on an individual molecule held between gold electrodes.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of prototype

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Cite this Entry

“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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