supersede

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “supersede” is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is replacing something else and can be used as either a verb or a noun. For example, “This new policy will supersede the old one.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The president hopes that tax benefits and the like will induce private investors to pay for the removal, but the government has said neither how much the project will cost nor how much has been paid for.Unsurprisingly, the notion that Akmola will ever supersede Almaty is greeted as lunacy by Kazakhs and foreigners alike.

The Economist

He thinks this a serious flaw in Rawls's argument:If imagining a hypothetical social insurance contract signed in an original position does not supersede the right of a person to his own organs, why should it supersede the right of a person to the fruits of his own labor?Why indeed?

The Economist

It will probably supersede Raytheon's Phalanx system, which uses mortars to do the same thing.

The Economist

At a recent meeting of the American Vacuum Society, in Seattle, delegates heard about the latest attempts to supersede the liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) that currently grace laptop computers.

The Economist

The laws supersede 15 sets of national rules, many of them protectionist.

The Economist

The FDR, a coalition that includes the president's party, feared that the conference's decisions might supersede those of parliament.

The Economist

That is an unconvincing syllogism.The other criticism is that, on closer inspection, the new guarantees look very like the old discredited targets they are supposed to supersede: ambitions defined by the government and policed by its servants or appointees, albeit through a different mechanism.

The Economist

The hazard for journalists who take up writing books on current events is that events quickly supersede their books.

The Economist

"It occurred to me", wrote Richard Gatling in 1877, "that if I could invent a machine a gun which could, by rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a great extent, supersede the necessity of large armies".

The Economist

"We want to provide greener lands for them".Mr Liu hopes that new, cleaner clusters will supersede its older, dirtier ones.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

While it looks for another sponsor, hoping the sport's clean image will help, the association is resisting the temptation to accept much more money from the ports that want to host tall-ships events, for fear that commercialism will supersede the young crews' needs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supersede" to indicate a clear and often formal replacement of one thing by another, particularly in legal, official, or technological contexts.

Common error

The correct spelling is "supersede". "Supercede" is a common misspelling. Always double-check your spelling to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "supersede" is as a transitive verb. It indicates the action of replacing something, taking its place or authority. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, demonstrating its role in sentences where one thing effectively makes another obsolete.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Academia

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supersede" is a transitive verb that means to replace something, often officially or authoritatively. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. It is important to note the correct spelling ("supersede", not "supercede") and to use it when you want to indicate a formal or authoritative replacement. Alternatives such as "replace", "supplant", and "override" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using the term, keep in mind that it often carries a connotation of improvement or increased authority, and this makes the term more proper in contexts such as formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replace

Indicates a direct substitution of one thing for another.

supplant

Suggests forcibly taking the place of something else.

override

Implies having higher authority and negating a previous decision or action.

displace

Focuses on the act of removing something from its position.

take precedence over

Emphasizes the priority of one thing over another.

invalidate

Means to make something null or void.

nullify

Implies canceling something out, making it ineffective.

overrule

Indicates rejecting a decision by using a higher authority.

set aside

Suggests putting something away or disregarding it.

take over from

Implies assuming control or responsibility from someone or something else.

FAQs

How to use "supersede" in a sentence?

Use "supersede" to indicate that something is replacing something else, often in a formal or official context. For example, "The new regulations will supersede the existing ones."

What can I say instead of "supersede"?

You can use alternatives like "replace", "supplant", or "override" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "supersede" or "supercede"?

"Supersede" is the correct spelling. "Supercede" is a common misspelling and should be avoided.

What is the difference between "supersede" and "replace"?

"Supersede" often implies a formal or official replacement, while "replace" is a more general term for substituting one thing for another. "Supersede" often suggests that the new thing is superior or more authoritative, but "replace" does not carry such a suggestion.