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Synonyms

sequential

American  
[si-kwen-shuhl] / sɪˈkwɛn ʃəl /

adjective

  1. characterized by regular sequence of parts.

  2. following; subsequent; consequent.

  3. Business. by comparison with the immediately preceding period, usually a fiscal quarter.

    a sequential increase in gross profit.


sequential British  
/ sɪˈkwɛnʃəl /

adjective

  1. characterized by or having a regular sequence

  2. another word for sequent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of sequential

First recorded in 1815–25; sequent + -ial

Explanation

Use the word sequential to describe something that has a particular order, like a recipe for chocolate chip cookies whose steps must be followed in a sequential order. If you make a list of things you need to do, starting with number 1 and continuing until all your tasks are accounted for, then you’ve made a sequential list. Something that is sequential often follows a numerical or alphabetical order, but it can also describe things that aren’t numbered but still need to take place in a logical order, such as the sequential steps you follow for running a program on your computer.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing sequential

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.

See Examples For:

Vicor stock rose after the company raised its sequential revenue guidance.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Gross lending at 55 listed GCC banks rises 2.6% from the previous quarter to a record $2.59 trillion, with all six GCC markets recording sequential growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

The findings were published in Materials Today in a study titled "A sequential dual-passivation strategy for designing stainless steel used above water oxidation."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

In terms of timeframe, the document we have seen says only that this would happen "in a gradual, sequential, and time-bound manner, based on an implementation schedule to be prepared within 14 days."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

The question of how sequential genetic circuits can “actualize” the development of an organism is addressed in a subsequent chapter.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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