Definitions and Examples of successor, heir
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
A person or thing that comes after another in a sequence or takes over a position or role from someone else.
Example
After the CEO retired, the board appointed a new successor to lead the company.
A person who is legally entitled to receive the property or rank of another person, especially an ancestor, upon that person's death.
Example
The prince was the heir to the throne and would become king when his father passed away.
Key Differences: successor vs heir
- 1Successor refers to a person or thing that comes after another in a sequence or takes over a position or role from someone else.
- 2Heir refers to a person who is legally entitled to receive the property or rank of another person, especially an ancestor, upon that person's death.
Effective Usage of successor, heir
- 1Business: Use successor to refer to the person who takes over a position or role from someone else.
- 2Inheritance: Use heir to refer to the person who is legally entitled to receive the property or rank of another person upon their death.
- 3History: Use these antonyms to describe the sequence of events or the order of rulers in a dynasty or monarchy.
Remember this!
The antonyms successor and heir describe opposite positions in a sequence or hierarchy. Use successor to refer to the person who takes over a position or role from someone else, and use heir to refer to the person who is legally entitled to receive the property or rank of another person upon their death. These words can be used in business, inheritance, and historical contexts.
