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succession Definition

suc·ces·sion (sək ses̸h′ən)

noun

  1. the act of succeeding or coming after another in order or sequence or to an office, estate, throne, etc.
  2. the right to succeed to an office, estate, etc.
  3. a number of persons or things coming one after another in time or space; series; sequence a succession of delays
    1. a series of heirs or rightful successors of any kind
    2. the order or line of such a series
  5. Ecol. the slow, regular sequence of changes in the regional development of communities of plants and associated animals, culminating in a climax characteristic of a specific geographical environment

Etymology: OFr < L successio < succedere: see succeed

succession Related Forms
suc·ces′·sional adjective suc·ces′·sio·nally adverb
succession Idioms

in succession

one after another in a regular series or sequence; successively

succession Synonyms

succession

n.

continuation, suite, set; see sequence 1, series. See syn. study at series.

in succession

consecutively, successively, in sequence, one after the other; see consecutive, repeatedly.

succession Law Definition

n

The taking over of a previous official’s office, rank, or duties by a new person; the process by which a decedent’s property or rights passes to the inheritors thereof, under the laws of descent and distribution. See also descent.
intestate succession
State laws governing inheritance of property belonging to individual who dies without a will. 
succession Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • lava: Detailed topography is largely controlled by a succession of Tertiary basalt lava flows that define successive, large-scale steps within the landscape.
  • bishop: The Apostles foresaw feuds, and provided for a succession of bishops and deacons; such, therefore cannot be removed at pleasure.
  • prophet: They believed in the teachings of a succession of prophets.
  • corner: A succession of corners followed, all lacking the final touch.
  • ruler: This is particularly remarkable given the almost continued decimation of this stricken people and land by a succession of brutal, self-serving rulers.

Converse of object

  • bewilder: None of this bewildering succession of health service reforms has changed the fundamental governance and accountability arrangements of the NHS.
  • settle: The intention of the measure was to settle the succession in a protestant line to follow the death of Queen Anne.
  • expose: When sand is exposed again the succession can be repeated.
  • govern: A number of suggestions have been made today for further changes in the law governing succession to the Throne.

Adjective modifier

  • apostolic: Apostolic Succession, which is the burden of the book, is the special subject of the second chapter.
  • quick: Also in quick succession come two teachers saying " Well you thought wrong didn't you?
  • Hanoverian: And so the Act of Settlement established the Hanoverian succession to the English throne.
  • rapid: You can enhance your weapons temporarily with a rapid succession of kills.
  • crudely-bedded: Upper Basalt Formation Comprise a crudely-bedded succession of lava flows, columnar jointed lava flows, ash-falls and red-weathered horizons ( or boles ).
  • Austrian: They had recently been in the war of the Austrian succession.

Modifies a noun

  • planning: Future Plans · Succession planning is being actioned with Angela becoming the next chair in the autumn.
  • crisis: With no clear line of succession in Arab families, succession crises became a common occurence throughout the Middle East.
  • dispute: Yet, the lords of the Admiralty remained very hesitant about the Prime Minister's decision to intervene in the succession dispute in Lagos.

Noun used with modifier

  • vegetation: This moth needs an early stage of vegetation succession, so some disturbance such as slippages is needed.
  • leadership: Leadership succession in schools: a cause for concern.
succession Quotes

One of the strongest motives that lead people to give their lives to art and science is the urge to flee from everyday life, with its drab and deadly dullness and thus to unshackle the chains of one's own transient desires, which supplant one another in an interminable succession so long as the mind is fixed on the horizon of daily environment.

—Einstein, Albert

The Film Industry is the American Monarchy: it is strict entailed succession and Horatio Alger in one. Except for the money manipulators and speculators on the top, it is a society built onwork, achievement, and fealty tothose in power.

—Mamet, David Alan