supersede
supersede
Pronunciation
/ˌsuːpərˈsiːd/
su-: /suː/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/uː/ - long high back rounded vowel
per-: /pər/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
/ər/ - unstressed mid-central rhotic vowel
sede: /siːd/
/siː/ - /s/ voiceless alveolar fricative, /iː/ long high front unrounded vowel.
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Verb Forms:
Base form: supersede
Third-person singular present: supersedes
Past tense: superseded
Present participle/gerund: superseding
Related Forms (Derived):
superseder: (noun) one that supersedes.
supersession: (noun) the act of superseding.
supersedence: (noun) the act of superseding.
supersedure: (noun) the act of superseding.
supersedable: (adjective) capable of being superseded.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb: Supersede
Definition: To take the place of something previously in use or authority; to replace or succeed something older or less efficient.
Example: "The new software will supersede the old system."
Synonyms: replace, supplant, displace, override, succeed, annul, invalidate, outmode, obsolete.
Antonyms: retain, maintain, preserve, uphold, keep, continue, sustain.
Noun: Supersession
Definition: The act or process of superseding; the replacement of one thing by another.
Example: "The supersession of traditional methods by digital technology is ongoing."
Synonyms: replacement, substitution, displacement, succession, annulment, invalidation.
Antonyms: retention, preservation, maintenance, continuation.
Noun: Superseder
Definition: One who or that which supersedes.
Example: "In this case, the updated law is the superseder of the previous legislation."
Synonyms: replacer, successor, displacer.
Antonyms: predecessor, maintainer.
Adjective: Superseded
Definition: Having been replaced or made obsolete.
Example: "The superseded model is no longer in production."
Synonyms: replaced, obsolete, outdated, outmoded, antiquated, invalid.
Antonyms: current, valid, up-to-date, modern, relevant.
Adjective: Supersedable
Definition: capable of being superseded.
Example: "These rules are supersedable, if they are proven to be ineffective."
Synonyms: replaceable, modifiable, alterable.
Antonyms: permanent, unchangeable, immutable.
Examples of Use
Legal/Political Context:
"This agreement would supersede any sale and be tied to the land itself rather than its owner." (Washington Post)
"Experts say that the FCC could claim that their rules supersede any created by the states or Congress." (Fortune)
"The latest charges come in the third superseding indictment against him." (NBC News)
"Read the full text of the superseding indictment against Trump and our top takeaways from the indictment." (Washington Post)
Technology/Innovation:
"Most of the old road has been superseded by the great interstate highways." (Cambridge Dictionary)
"Once my favorite Instax, the Mini 90 seems to have been superseded by the Mini Evo." (WIRED)
"The internet seems to have superseded every mode of communication ever invented!" (Cambridge Dictionary)
General Discourse/News:
"But the health and safety of the athletes supersede that desire." (The Salt Lake Tribune)
"But the thought of returning to the pitch for the first time in a year supersedes any inconvenience." (Orlando Sentinel)
"The beaches and small towns that equal or supersede the beauty of anywhere else in the world." (New York Times)
"The fact that Mahomes's status as one of the NFL's best pure passers superseded his race is progress." (BostonGlobe.com)
Entertainment:
"This role as narrator was superseded by Chani in the first film, but now the princess has arrived." (EW.com)
"The jury votes will be tallied, which may or may not completely supersede the televote." (NPR)
10 Famous Quotes Using Supersede
“Let growth supersede fear, for only then does potential become reality.” (Unknown)
“New wisdom should not supersede the old, but rather refine it.” (Unknown)
“Injustice thrives when convenience is allowed to supersede conscience.” (Unknown)
“Technologies may supersede one another, but imagination remains eternal.” (Arthur C. Clarke)
“Do not let distractions supersede the discipline required to achieve your purpose.” (Unknown)
“When love is genuine, it can supersede even the deepest wounds.” (Unknown)
“Public opinion must never supersede truth, though it often tries.” (Unknown)
“A leader’s duty is to let principle supersede popularity.” (Unknown)
“Let clarity supersede noise whenever you speak.” (Unknown)
“In time, understanding may supersede anger, if humility opens the door.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The Breakdown:
"Supersede" comes from the Latin word "supersedere."
This Latin word is a combination of two parts:
"super-" meaning "above" or "over."
"sedere" means "to sit."
Putting it Together:
So, literally, "supersedere" meant "to sit above" or "to sit over."
However, in its usage, it took on the meaning of "to refrain from," "to forbear," or "to postpone." Think of it as "sitting on" something, and therefore delaying or stopping it.
How it Evolved:
Over time, especially when it entered English, the meaning shifted from "to refrain" to "to take the place of."
The idea of "sitting over" something evolved into "overtaking" or "replacing" it.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The first known use of "supersede" in English was in the 15th century.
Back then, it carried the sense of "to set aside" or "to make void." This is very close to the latin meaning of to refrain from.
It then shifted to its current meaning over the passing centuries.
In Simple Terms:
Imagine a king sitting on his throne, holding authority. Then, a new king comes along and "sits over" him, taking his place. That's essentially what "supersede" means: to come and take the place of something that was previously in charge.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Supersede
Phrases (Less Common, More Constructed):
"To be superseded by progress": This phrase conveys the idea of something being made obsolete by advancement.
"A rule superseded by time": This suggests that a rule or practice has become outdated.
"To supersede old habits": This refers to replacing established patterns of behavior.
"To have one's authority superseded": This indicates a loss of power or control.
Idioms with Synonyms (For Similar Effect):
"To kick something to the curb" (synonym: replace/discard): This idiom implies getting rid of something, similar to superseding it.
"To take a backseat" (synonym: be replaced): This suggests being relegated to a less important position.
"To be out with the old, in with the new" (synonym: replace): This idiom captures the essence of superseding old things with new ones.
"To pull the rug out from under" (synonym: invalidate): This idiom means to remove support or invalidate something suddenly.
"To turn over a new leaf" (synonym: replace old behavior): This idiom refers to making a fresh start by replacing old habits.
Original Phrases:
"Where innovation supersedes stagnation."
"When clarity supersedes confusion."
"May peace supersede conflict."
As you can see, we have to get creative to find phrases that work. Because of the nature of the word itself, it is not used in many common idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of supersede from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
