serve successively; successive or previous holders
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to serve successively; to hold multiple positions in sequence
formalUsed to describe a career trajectory where one holds different positions over time, often in an official or organizational context.
After joining the army, he successively served as platoon leader, company commander, and other positions.
She successively held the position of department manager in several divisions at that company.
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This professor has successively served as president of three universities.
adjective
successive; previous (holders of a particular position)
formalUsed as an attributive modifier to refer collectively to people who have held a specific position before the current holder.
Among successive directors, she is the only female.
We should earnestly summarize the lessons learned from previous leaders.
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Successive presidents have all mentioned this issue in their inaugural addresses.