segue

[sey-gwey, seg-wey]

verb (used without object)

segued, segueing 

1. to continue at once with the next musical section or composition (often used as a musical direction).

2. to perform in the manner of the preceding section (used as a musical direction).

3. to make a transition from one thing to another smoothly and without interruption.

   The conversation segued from travel anecdotes to food.

noun

1. an uninterrupted transition made between one musical section or composition and another.

2. any smooth, uninterrupted transition from one thing to another.

segue

/ ˈsɛɡweɪ /

verb

1. (often foll by into) to proceed from one section or piece of music to another without a break

2. (imperative) play on without pause: a musical direction

noun

1. the practice or an instance of playing music in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of segue¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from Italian: “(it) follows, (there) follows,” 3rd-person singular present of seguire “to follow,” ultimately from Latin sequī; sue

Word History and Origins

Origin of segue¹

from Italian: follows, from seguire to follow, from Latin sequī

Example Sentences

Her gripes with the network and the other TV personalities segued into a tirade against the left, which she said “understands everything in a way different than myself.”

From Los Angeles Times

He thought of the idea while listening to a true-crime podcast when the host segued effortlessly from a gruesome description of finding a body in a canal to talking about a food delivery service.

From Los Angeles Times

But all that momentum for change stalled when, in 1917, the United States entered World War I and then segued to a postwar decade of speculative frenzy.

From Salon

We’re just building … the real talent, the expertise comes in when they build, and it’s also a pivot, like the segue you just did right now to get into this topic.

From Los Angeles Times

Biel has likewise segued into producing with her company, Iron Ocean, which backed the psychological thriller series “Cruel Summer,” “The Sinner” and “Candy,” the latter two in which she also starred.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• continuation