sequel

American  

[see-kwuhl] / ˈsi kwəl /

noun

1. a literary work, movie, etc., that is complete in itself but continues the narrative of a preceding work.

2. an event or circumstance following something; subsequent course of affairs.

3. a result, consequence, or inference.

   Synonyms:

   end, outgrowth, upshot, aftermath

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sequel British  

/ ˈsiːkwəl /

noun

1. anything that follows from something else; development

2. a consequence or result

3. a novel, play, etc, that continues a previously related story

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sequel Cultural  

1. A narrative or dramatic work complete in itself but designed to follow an earlier one. Through the Looking-Glass is a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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Etymology

Origin of sequel

1375–1425; late Middle English sequel ( e ) < Latin sequēla what follows, equivalent to sequ ( ī ) to follow + -ēla noun suffix

Explanation

A sequel is a continuation or part two. The Empire Strikes Back and Toy Story 2 are sequels. Many successful movies have sequels. The most common meaning of sequel is for a book or movie that follows another, but the term can be used for just about anything that comes second. We might say of an actress who begins her career with a bang, "What will she do for a sequel?" A football team that wins a championship may have trouble with the sequel — trying to win another one next year. All sequels have a tough challenge — living up to the original.

Example Sentences

So it shouldn’t be surprising that the sequel series, “The Testaments,” also has name-specific cultural resonance.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The animated sequel from Universal and Illumination Studios tracks the adventures of Mario, Luigi and friends in outer space, where they must save Princess Rosalina.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

The sequel is, like its predecessor, wall-to-wall animated frenzy, with chases, fights and handsomely detailed set pieces such as a topsy-turvy casino land where characters walk on walls and ceilings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Click Clack Symphony, scored by film legend Hans Zimmer, is a spiritual sequel to Raye's 2022 smash Escapism.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

I always look there, just in case R. M. Wildsmith has suddenly decided, after fifty years, to write a sequel.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

Related Words

• conclusion
• ending
• sequence
• series