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subsequent
adjective
Did you know?
Subsequent vs. Consequent
The English language has many ways to indicate that something has come after another thing, but a number of these words have subtle differences that you may want to observe.
Something is subsequent if it follows something else in time, order, or place. Its meaning is very similar to that of following or later, but it has a more formal tone to it and may imply that something not only follows but in some way grows out of or is otherwise closely connected with what precedes it (“their courtship and subsequent marriage”).
Consequent may also be used of something that follows, but that does so explicitly as a result of something else (“I said an insensitive thing and the consequent argument lasted for days”).
There may be occasions when either subsequent or consequent would work ("her wounding and subsequent [or consequent] loss of blood"); your choice in such cases would depend upon whether you want to stress the order of events or the causal relationship between one event and another.
Examples of subsequent in a Sentence
Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin subsequent-, subsequens, present participle of subsequi to follow close, from sub- near + sequi to follow — more at sub-, sue
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing subsequent
Dictionary Entries Near subsequent
Cite this Entry
“Subsequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsequent. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
subsequent
adjectiveLegal Definition
subsequent
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on subsequent
Nglish: Translation of subsequent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of subsequent for Arabic Speakers
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