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
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music another word for parallel
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grammar expressing consequence or result
consecutive clauses
Other Word Forms
Derived 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 3.9% increase in China’s PPI in May marked the third consecutive month of increases after a 41-month decline.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
With no consecutive league wins all season and just one victory on the road, the 2025-26 version of the Sharks was unlike what had been on show before.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Can Lionel Messi, at the age of 38, settle any lingering debate about his status as the greatest player of all time by leading Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup title?
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
McDuffie and Watson were part of Kansas City Chiefs teams that played in three consecutive Super Bowls, winning titles in 2023 and 2024.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
The probability of red on the next spin is 18/38, the same as the conditional probability of red on the next spin given that there have been five consecutive reds.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
