sequel
Americannoun
-
anything that follows from something else; development
-
a consequence or result
-
a novel, play, etc, that continues a previously related story
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.
Vocabulary lists containing sequel
Do-Over: Words For Groundhog Day
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from an excerpt from "Confessions of a 30-Year-Old Gamer," by Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for December 19–25, 2020
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
I don’t know whether there’ll be a sequel after this one, but if so, that sequel is going to be centered around them.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
"Mortal Kombat II," a Warner Bros sequel based on the popular martial arts fantasy video game, dropped to fourth place at $13.4 million.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
This sequel to the 2021 videogame-inspired feature threads its nonsensical story through a relentless procession of fight scenes.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
The sequel to ”The Devil Wears Prada” just had a terrific opening weekend, taking in $77 million in the U.S. and $233 million globally, according to Variety.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
The sequel to a great movie is usually not as good as the original.
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.
