sequence

American  

[see-kwuhns] / ˈsi kwəns /

noun

1. the following of one thing after another; succession.

2. order of succession.

   a list of books in alphabetical sequence.

   Synonyms:

   arrangement

3. a continuous or connected series.

   a sonnet sequence.

4. something that follows; a subsequent event; result; consequence.

   Synonyms:

   sequel, outcome

5. Music. a melodic or harmonic pattern repeated three or more times at different pitches with or without modulation.

6. Liturgy. a hymn sometimes sung after the gradual and before the gospel; prose.

7. Movies. a series of related scenes or shots, as those taking place in one locale or at one time, that make up one episode of the film narrative.

8. Cards. a series of three or more cards following one another in order of value, especially of the same suit.

9. Genetics. the linear order of monomers in a polymer, as nucleotides in DNA or amino acids in a protein.

10. Mathematics. a set whose elements have an order similar to that of the positive integers; a map from the positive integers to a given set.

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verb (used with object)

sequences, present (3rd person singular) sequenced, past participle, past sequencing present participle

1. to place in a sequence.

2. Biochemistry. to determine the order of (chemical units in a polymer chain), especially nucleotides in DNA or RNA or amino acids in a protein.

sequence British  

/ ˈsiːkwəns /

noun

1. an arrangement of two or more things in a successive order

2. the successive order of two or more things

   chronological sequence

3. a sequentially ordered set of related things or ideas

4. an action or event that follows another or others

5. 1. cards a set of three or more consecutive cards, usually of the same suit

   2. bridge a set of two or more consecutive cards

6. music an arrangement of notes or chords repeated several times at different pitches

7. maths

   1. an ordered set of numbers or other mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the integers 1 to n

   2. an ordered infinite set of mathematical entities in one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers

8. a section of a film constituting a single continuous uninterrupted episode

9. biochem the unique order of amino acids in the polypeptide chain of a protein or of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of DNA or RNA

10. RC Church another word for prose

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verb

1. to arrange in a sequence

2. biochem to determine the order of the units comprising (a protein, nucleic acid, genome, etc)

sequence Scientific  

/ sē′kwəns /

1. A set of quantities ordered in the same manner as the positive integers, in which there is always the same relation between each quantity and the one succeeding it. A sequence can be finite, such as {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, or it can be infinite, such as {1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, … 1/n}.

2. Also called progression

3. The order of subunits that make up a polymer, especially the order of nucleotides in a nucleic acid or of the amino acids in a protein.

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1. To determine the order of subunits of a polymer.

Synonym Usage

See series.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unsequenced
  adjective
• undersequence
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has sequenced
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have sequenced
  perfect
• am sequencing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is sequencing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been sequencing
  perfect progressive
• are sequencing
  progressive
• sequences
  singular 3rd person
• has been sequencing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• sequencing
  participle

Past

• had sequenced
  perfect
• had been sequencing
  perfect progressive
• were sequencing
  progressive plural
• was sequencing
  progressive singular
• sequenced
  participle
• sequenced
  simple

Future

• will sequence
  simple
• will have sequenced
  perfect
• will have been sequencing
  perfect progressive
• will be sequencing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of sequence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin sequentia, equivalent to sequ- (stem of sequī “to follow”) + -entia noun suffix; see -ence

Explanation

When things come in sequence, they come in a specific order. It could be a chronological sequence, a sequence following a pattern (red-blue-brown, red-blue-brown), or a cause-and-effect sequence. Sequence can also be a verb. When you sequence something, you put it in order. The prom committee had the task of sequencing dance music––even if playing "Celebrate" as the final dance and not the first felt out of sequence to the DJ, it was their call.

Example Sentences

One sequence of brilliant passes shows just what they’re doing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

These bursts of genetic activity occur in sequence and help guide the organism through each stage of growth.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

In 2025, he apologised after facing backlash for mimicking a ritual sequence from the hit Kannada film Kantara at a film festival event, with critics accusing him of disrespecting its cultural significance.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

With a jazzy score fixed atop its ’60s-era mod-cartoon opening sequence, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” makes no effort to disguise its pastiche.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

The size of the chambers of the nautilus and the number of clockwise grooves to counterclockwise grooves in the pineapple are governed by this sequence.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• arrangement
• array
• progression
• string