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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of ancestor
The theory is that some of the AGN-hosting galaxies seen for the first time in infrared in the MEGA data are ancestors of Milky Way-like galaxies.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
There’s nothing quite like the experience of traveling the country as a Black person, a country built by our ancestors on slave labor, and still feeling unwelcome, still feeling subject to patrols and abuse made legal with badges and laws.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Like all Guna, Lisa’s ancestors were not native island dwellers.
—Mark Johanson, AFAR Media, 22 Apr. 2025
Water bottle The modern-day source of water for many people—their water bottle—may be just as germ-filled as our ancient ancestors’ go-to watering hole.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
There’s nothing quite like the experience of traveling the country as a Black person, a country built by our ancestors on slave labor, and still feeling unwelcome, still feeling subject to patrols and abuse made legal with badges and laws.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Like all Guna, Lisa’s ancestors were not native island dwellers.
—Mark Johanson, AFAR Media, 22 Apr. 2025
Water bottle The modern-day source of water for many people—their water bottle—may be just as germ-filled as our ancient ancestors’ go-to watering hole.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestor
Noun
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If Bill Rusher was a closeted gay man, he was tucked back there in the far corner, next to his grandfather’s golf clubs.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
13 May 2025
-
My grandfather ran a hotel in Sorrento, where I was born.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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The case was the forerunner to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno’s decision to snatch Elián from his cousin’s Little Havana home and reunite him with his dad in Cuba.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Most of the forerunners of modern Zionism saw themselves as secular.—
Tamir Sorek,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Key Background Pope Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago to his mother, Mildred Martinez, a librarian, and his father, Louis Prevost, a World War II Navy veteran and school superintendent.—
Nicholas Reimann,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Their father, King George VI, had announced via radio broadcast that World War II was over in Europe after six years of fighting and the princesses joined him on the balcony of Buckingham Palace multiple times to greet the cheering crowds gathered below.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Some say that news is a precursor to a recession, but that seems very unlikely given the other economic news.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 May 2025
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The paintings are a precursor to Mexico’s famous catsta (caste) paintings — a genre invented to depict biracial families that was omnipresent during most of the 18th century.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Supporters would not respond well to such triumphalism if defeats come more regularly, and as his predecessor Gary O’Neil found, such feel-good sentiments do not take long to dissipate.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Trump mocked Carney’s predecessor by calling him Governor Trudeau.—
Rob Gillies,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
All those fancy market reports can’t compete with actually watching someone struggle with your prototype, seeing their face scrunch up in confusion.—
Goran Paun,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Under Armour worked with young athletes in Baltimore city schools to test the prototypes of the new backpack.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancestor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestor. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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