iterative

[it-uh-rey-tiv, -er-uh-tiv]

adjective

1. repeating; making repetition; repetitious.

2. relating to or noting a development strategy that involves a cyclical process of refining or tweaking the latest version or iteration of a product, process, or idea to make a subsequent version: The new restaurant finalized their menu after a year of diner feedback and iterative improvements.

   Website design is highly iterative.

   The new restaurant finalized their menu after a year of diner feedback and iterative improvements.

3. Grammar.,  frequentative.

ˈiterative

/ ˈɪtərətɪv /

adjective

1. repetitious or frequent

2. maths logic another word for recursive See recursive

3. grammar another word for frequentative

Other Word Forms

• iteratively adverb
• iterativeness noun
• uniterative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of iterative¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; from Late Latin iterātīvum (verbum) “frequentative (verb).” See iterate, -ive

Example Sentences

The pitch from them both amounted to arguing that they are assembling what they see as a careful set of thoughtful, workable, iterative steps forward on asylum policy.

From BBC

Our response must be adaptive, experimental and iterative: a continuous process of design evolution, shaped by trial and error, much like nature itself.

From Los Angeles Times

It means championing the messy, iterative process of learning, individually and collectively.

From Salon

Secondly: once they decided to move, they have moved pretty quickly, albeit announcing the U-turn in iterative steps, one week after another.

From BBC

Other Japanese studios are known for taking this iterative approach and building on what has come before.

From BBC