noun · formal
ancestor
UK/ˈænsestə(r)/US/ˈænsestər/AN·ces·tor
Band 5-6task2speaking
a person related to you who lived a long time ago, especially before your grandparents
Examples
“She traced her family tree back to ancestors who lived in the 18th century.”
“Many cultures honour their ancestors during specific festivals.”
“Researching ancestors can reveal surprising stories about migration.”
Band 8 sentence
“By examining old records, she discovered ancestors who had migrated across continents, which reshaped her sense of identity.”
Collocations
- trace your ancestors
- honour one's ancestors
Word family
ancestral adjectiveancestry noun
Common mistakes
ancestor = grandparent→ancestor (wider than grandparent)
Say it for a higher band
5grandparent→6forebear→7+ancestor
Synonyms
forebear
Easily confused
descendant
“Many descendants now live far from their ancestral homeland.”
Related words
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In Family & Relationships
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