1
as in grandfathers
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
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2
as in forerunners
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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Recent Examples of ancestors
These groups, known as the Clovis people, entered the continent around 13,000 years ago and became the ancestors of Indigenous Americans.
—
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Malleability and flexibility were more useful than photographic accuracy to our ancestors navigating a constantly changing, dangerous world.
—Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
This behavior would’ve baffled our ancestors.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Her ancestors go back to a place called Gorakhpur in northern India.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
The ancestors of the modern sharks first appeared in this Silurian Period.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Their teeth, for example, are a marvel of nature and have evolved from the relatively rudimentary sets their ancestors the Cladoselache sported.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
A long time ago The remains of an 18-month-old boy who lived 13,000 years ago in what’s now Montana have helped researchers gain insights into the diet of the ancient Clovis people, who were the ancestors of Native Americans.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Theropods are a highly diverse group of bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that include giant predators like Tyrannosaurus rex as well as the small ancestors of modern birds.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Malleability and flexibility were more useful than photographic accuracy to our ancestors navigating a constantly changing, dangerous world.
—Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024
This behavior would’ve baffled our ancestors.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Her ancestors go back to a place called Gorakhpur in northern India.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
The ancestors of the modern sharks first appeared in this Silurian Period.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Their teeth, for example, are a marvel of nature and have evolved from the relatively rudimentary sets their ancestors the Cladoselache sported.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
A long time ago The remains of an 18-month-old boy who lived 13,000 years ago in what’s now Montana have helped researchers gain insights into the diet of the ancient Clovis people, who were the ancestors of Native Americans.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Theropods are a highly diverse group of bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that include giant predators like Tyrannosaurus rex as well as the small ancestors of modern birds.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ancestors
Cite this Entry
“Ancestors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestors. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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