continuation

American  

[kuhn-tin-yoo-ey-shuhn] / kənˌtɪn yuˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or state of continuing; the state of being continued.

2. extension or carrying on to a further point.

   to request the continuation of a loan.

3. something that continues some preceding thing by being of the same kind or having a similar content.

   Today's weather will be a continuation of yesterday's.

4. Library Science.

   1. a supplement to a publication previously issued.

   2. a work published in continuance of a monograph, serial, or series.

5. British Stock Exchange. contango.

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continuation British  

/ kənˌtɪnjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. a part or thing added, esp to a book or play, that serves to continue or extend; sequel

2. a renewal of an interrupted action, process, etc; resumption

3. the act or fact of continuing without interruption; prolongation

4. another word for contango contango

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• procontinuation
  adjective
• noncontinuation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of continuation

1350–1400; Middle English continuacio ( u ) n (< Anglo-French ) < Latin continuātiōn- (stem of continuātiō ). See continuate, -ion

Explanation

When you carry something over a longer period of time than originally planned, that's a continuation. The City Council voted on a continuation of their discussion on the school budget after failing to reach an agreement today. You can also think of a continuation as the act of continuing to do something or to be in a particular situation. The continuation of your allergies makes you suspect they might have something to do with your new cat. Even after your cousin loses his job, he's grateful for the continuation of his health insurance. The Latin root, continuationem, means "a following of one thing after another."

Example Sentences

"It's upsetting that they are putting such a weight on the gender of the main role rather than thinking about this as a continuation of a story we're already really invested in."

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

The announcement Tuesday is a continuation of that work.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Today’s layoffs are a continuation of the slow bleed that has plagued the gaming industry postpandemic.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

For Bristol-Myers, the agreement with Anthropic is a continuation of a multiyear journey to deploy AI across the firm.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

If I said I was old enough to marry and his question had only been the continuation of a good joke, he would be horribly embarrassed and our easy friendship would be ruined.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

Related Words

• continuance
• continuity
• extension
• perpetuation
• preservation