consecutive
Americanadjective
-
following one another in uninterrupted succession or order; successive.
six consecutive numbers, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
- Synonyms:
- continuous
-
marked by logical sequence.
-
Grammar. expressing consequence or result.
a consecutive clause.
adjective
-
(of a narrative, account, etc) following chronological sequence
-
following one another without interruption; successive
-
characterized by logical sequence
-
music another word for parallel
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grammar expressing consequence or result
consecutive clauses
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of consecutive
First recorded in 1605–15; consecut(ion) + -ive
Explanation
If things are consecutive, they happen one after the other with no break. If there are five consecutive snowstorms on five consecutive days, you'll have to shovel your way out on day six. Consecutive comes from the Latin consecutus, meaning "following closely" with no gap. Just like those snowstorms — one storm happened each day, back to back, for five days in a row. Consecutive numbers also follow each other, or advance in the right order. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are consecutive numbers. You should number the pages on a term paper to keep them consecutive so the teacher doesn't get confused.
Vocabulary lists containing consecutive
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
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List 4
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ACT Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The host Patriots hadn’t lost a league game since 2017 and had beaten Cleveland 13 consecutive times, by an average score of 40-8.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen picks up 450,000 shares, marking his second consecutive week of multimillion-dollar purchases.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
He’ll be shattering a Dolby Theatre record this week — by selling out an unprecedented consecutive multi-night run of stand-up comedy shows — when he begins his run of six shows Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Entering this season, Kelce’s 14th in the NFL, Kelce’s production had decreased for three consecutive years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
I tried remaining completely still for several consecutive minutes, and during those minutes, I detected Ben leaning slightly toward me several times.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
