1. a person from whom one is descended, especially one more remote than a grandparent
2. an early form of something from which later forms have developed

Examples

• She traced her family tree back to her Irish ancestors.
• My ancestors immigrated to America in the 1800s.
• The ancient burial ground contained the remains of tribal ancestors.
• We honor our ancestors during the traditional ceremony.
• The modern computer has its ancestor in early calculating machines.
• This primitive bird is considered an ancestor of modern eagles.
• Archaeological evidence reveals information about our human ancestors.