supersede

verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to be set aside

b

: to force out of use as inferior

2

: to take the place or position of

3

: to displace in favor of another

superseder noun

Did you know?

Language is constantly evolving, with old spellings and meanings superseded by new ones over time. Naturally, supersede itself has its share of predecessors. Supersede ultimately comes from the Latin verb supersedēre, meaning "to sit on top of" (sedēre means "to sit"), "to be superior to," or "to refrain from," but it came to English through Scots Middle English, where it was rendered superceden and used synonymously with defer. Modern English speakers are often confused about how to spell supersede—it sometimes turns up as supercede. In fact, some of the earliest records of the word in English show it spelled with a c. Though both spellings can be etymologically justified, over time supersede won out as the "correct" version.

Synonyms

• cut out
• displace
• displant
• relieve
• replace
• substitute
• supplant

Choose the Right Synonym for supersede

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supersede in a Sentence

Fortunately, the scientific enterprise has its own self-correcting mechanisms that eventually sort things out. Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results. Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies. —Harriet Hall, Skeptic, 2007

The ancient human carriers of information and understanding—elders, priests, bards, teachers, and community members—are superseded by a more durable and efficient medium, the printed word. —M. Rex Miller, The Millennium Matrix, 2004

Upgrading America's too-old, too-slow telephone network, which took about a century to build, is a massive task. But if you believe predictions that the Internet will one day supersede the telephone as the world's primary means of communications, these companies will be road kill if they simply sit by the wayside. —Bethany McLean, Fortune, 6 Dec. 1999

This edition supersedes the previous one.

Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.

Recent Examples on the Web

The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill, began on Dec. 9 with the jury returning guilty verdicts on multiple counts of a superseding indictment late yesterday afternoon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 Dec. 2024

While states do have laws of their own regarding the use of drones, the FAA's regulations tend to reign supreme and may even supersede any other conflicting rules. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

As consuming as the war in Ukraine has been for Russia, the Kremlin does not see it as superseding its Middle East ambitions. —Nicole Grajewski, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024

Pickford also feared that his archival work was being superseded. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) superceden to defer, from Middle French superceder, from Latin supersedēre to sit on top, refrain from, from super- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

supersede

verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

1

: to force out of use as inferior

2

: to take the place, room, or position of : replace

3

: to remove in favor of another

superseder noun

supersedure

-ˈsē-jər

noun

Etymology

Middle English superceden "to defer," from early French superceder, from Latin supersedēre "to sit on top of, refrain from," from super "over, above," and sedēre "to sit"

Legal Definition

supersede

transitive verb

su·​per·​sede ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

superseded; superseding

1

: to subject to postponement or suspension

especially : to suspend the operation of (a judgment or order) by means of a supersedeas

2

: to take the place of in authority : preempt, override

3

: to take the place of and render null or ineffective