sequence

1 of 2

noun

se·​quence ˈsē-kwən(t)s 

-ˌkwen(t)s

1

: a hymn in irregular meter between the gradual and Gospel in masses for special occasions (such as Easter)

2

: a continuous or connected series: such as

a

: an extended series of poems united by a single theme

a sonnet sequence

b

: three or more playing cards usually of the same suit in consecutive order of rank

c

: a succession of repetitions of a melodic phrase or harmonic pattern each in a new position

d

: a set of elements ordered so that they can be labeled with the positive integers

e

: the exact order of bases in a nucleic acid or of amino acids in a protein

f(1)

: a succession of related shots or scenes developing a single subject or phase of a film story

(2)

: episode

3

a

: order of succession

b

: an arrangement of the tenses of successive verbs in a sentence designed to express a coherent relationship especially between main and subordinate parts

4

a

: consequence, result

b

: a subsequent development

5

: continuity of progression

the narrative sequence

sequence

2 of 2

verb

sequenced; sequencing

transitive verb

1

: to arrange in a sequence

2

: to determine the sequence of chemical constituents (such as amino-acid residues or nucleic-acid bases) in

Synonyms

Noun

• aftereffect
• aftermath
• backwash
• child
• conclusion
• consequence
• corollary
• development
• effect
• fate
• fruit
• issue
• outcome
• outgrowth
• precipitate
• product
• result
• resultant
• sequel
• upshot

Examples of sequence in a Sentence

Noun

He listened to the telephone messages in sequence.

a chase sequence in a spy movie

I enjoyed the movie's opening sequence.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The household is barely making ends meet in the series’ opening sequence, and after Jean’s disappearance, the siblings are cruelly separated by the British bureaucratic state. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024

The test, developed at the University of California, San Francisco, extracts the DNA and RNA from a sample of blood, tissue or body fluid, and then sequences the genetic material and compares the sequences to a vast database of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites to see what matches up. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

Verb

The big picture: This pandemic is exposing legal gaps for sharing virus samples and sequencing data that could hinder responses to international health emergencies, according to a new paper in the journal Science. —Alison Snyder, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

Pask had already sequenced the Tasmanian tiger’s genome with the help of DNA extracted from a 108-year old pouch young specimen that had been preserved at the Victoria Museum in Australia. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin sequentia, from Late Latin, sequel, literally, act of following, from Latin sequent-, sequens, present participle of sequi

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sequence

• Cauchy sequence
• main sequence
• out of sequence
• sonnet sequence

Kids Definition

sequence

noun

se·​quence

ˈsē-kwən(t)s,

-ˌkwen(t)s

1

a

: a continuous or connected series

b

: a set of several shots or scenes developing a single subject (as in a movie)

a chase sequence in a spy movie

2

: the order in which things are or should be connected, related, or dated

the sequence of events

3

a

: result entry 2 sense 1, consequence

b

: a development that follows something else

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sequence "a hymn, a connected series," derived from Latin sequentia "state or fact of following, succession," from sequent-, sequens, a form of the verb sequi "to follow" — related to sequel

Medical Definition

sequence

1 of 2 noun

se·​quence ˈsē-kwən(t)s, -ˌkwen(t)s 

1

: a continuous or connected series

specifically : the exact order of bases in a nucleic acid or of amino acids in a protein

2

: a consequence, result, or subsequent development (as of a disease)

sequence

2 of 2 transitive verb

sequenced; sequencing

: to determine the sequence of chemical constituents (as amino acid residues in a protein or bases in a strand of DNA) in

sequenced the DNA of the entire genome of an organism