Predecessor most nearly means:

• A. The previous occupant of a post or role
• B. A successor
• C. A current holder of a position
• D. Someone who follows another

Answer: (A)

Predecessor describes the person who held a position before the current holder. It points to the former occupant of a post or role, which is exactly what the word conveys. A successor is someone who comes after, not before, so that doesn’t fit. A current holder is the person who is in the role now, and someone who follows another is simply a follower, not the person who held the job previously. So the phrase that best matches is the description of the previous occupant of a post or role.