heir apparent

Definitions

Someone who will definitely inherit if surviving the one whose property is to be inherited.

usually

Equivalents

Examples

“[…] for Mary, though perfectly resolved against ever attaching herself to a younger brother again, was long in finding among the dashing representatives, or idle heir apparents, who were at the command of her beauty, and her 20,000l. any one who could satisfy⟳ the better taste⟳ she had acquired at Mansfield, whose character and manners could authorise a hope⟳ of the domestic happiness she had there learnt to estimate⟳, or put⟳ Edmund Bertram sufficiently out of her head.”

“LeBron James, heir apparent to MJ’s throne, seems on paper like⟳ a dream⟳ trade⟳—he stole plenty of laughs in Trainwreck a few summers ago.”

CEFR level