Precursors: meaning, definitions and examples

Again, used in scientific or technical fields to indicate something that precedes and paves the way for another thing.

• The early experiments were precursors to the groundbreaking research that followed

Used to describe people or things that signal the coming of something else and often have a pioneering role.

• The Wright brothers were forerunners in the field of aviation

Often used in historical or genealogical contexts to refer to people, events, or conditions that existed before the current ones.

• The traditions have their antecedents in ancient rituals

Used in the context of jobs, positions, or roles to indicate the person or thing that came before the current one.

• She has improved the processes her predecessors put in place

Use when referring to something that comes before another and often influences its development, can be related to events, inventions, or phenomena.

• The telephone was a precursor to modern smartphones
• Early online message boards were precursors to today's social media platforms

Use when talking about people in one's family who lived long ago, usually focusing on direct lineage and heritage.

• My ancestors emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s
• We discovered that one of our ancestors fought in the Civil War

Use when emphasizing respect or admiration for those who came before, often with a sense of tradition and legacy. It can be used interchangeably with 'ancestors' but has a more formal tone.

• Our forebears established this community over a century ago
• He honors his forebears by maintaining the family business

Use when talking about someone or something that is the originator or creator of a lineage, idea, or movement, often used in scientific or intellectual contexts.

• Isaac Newton is considered one of the progenitors of modern physics
• The ancient Greek philosophers are progenitors of Western philosophy