Supersedes

Supersedes is the third-person singular present tense of the verb supersede. It means to take the place of something that was previously in effect or in use, to replace or override a prior rule, decision, standard, or object. When something supersedes another, the older item is no longer current or applicable.

Etymology and form: Supersede stems from Latin elements meaning “over” and “to sit,” and it entered English through medieval usage influenced by Old French. The standard spelling is supersede; a common misspelling is supercede. The related noun is supersession; the past tense is superseded, and the present participle is superseding.

Usage: It is a transitive verb that requires a direct object describing what is being replaced, as in “The new regulation supersedes the previous one.” It is commonly used in legal, administrative, and standards contexts, as well as in technical or policy writing, to indicate that an update or replacement renders earlier versions obsolete. It is not typically used intransitively.

Examples: “The updated treaty supersedes all preceding agreements.” “The latest software release supersedes the earlier build.” In many fields, a superseding rule or standard is considered authoritative until revised again.

See also: replace, override, supplant, precede. Supersede contrasts with precede in indicating replacement rather than mere sequence.