heir apparent

[air uh-pair-uhnt, uh-par-] / ˈɛər əˈpɛər ənt, əˈpær- /

NOUN

person expected to take over

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crown prince

WEAK

apparent heir heir expectant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By the time he won his fourth major in 2014, at just 25, he was viewed as the heir apparent to Tiger Woods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

New England’s Drake Maye, 23, was also the No. 3 in his draft class two years ago, becoming the heir apparent to Brady.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

So now the man once seen as the heir apparent to Tom Brady will face the legendary quarterback's eventual successor, Drake Maye, for a place in Super Bowl 60.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

A 2006 US embassy cable described him as the BNP's "heir apparent" who "inspires few but unnerves many".

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

In the four years since Mills had joined the Rad Lab, he had emerged as Ernest’s heir apparent.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik