consecutive

adjective

con·​sec·​u·​tive kən-ˈse-kyə-tiv How to pronounce consecutive (audio)
-kə-tiv
: following one after the other in order : successive
served four consecutive terms in office
consecutiveness noun

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Concurrent and Consecutive

Consecutive has a good deal in common with the complementary word concurrent. Besides the fact that both begin with the prefix con- (meaning “with, together”), each word deals with the time-order in which several things happen. Concurrent describes things that are occurring, or people who are doing something, at the same time, such as “concurrent users” of a computer program. Consecutive refers to things that are arranged or happen in a sequential order. A criminal who serves a consecutive sentence does time for one conviction after another. If that person gets a concurrent sentence, he or she undergoes all punishments at the same time.

Examples of consecutive in a Sentence

the team's winning streak has lasted for seven consecutive games
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Canada's Liberal Party is projected to win the country's federal election for the fourth consecutive time. Landon Mion , Christopher Guly, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2025 And, now, the reality of the largest playoff loss in franchise history for the second consecutive game, the fourth-largest in NBA playoff history. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2025 Europe’s regional Stoxx 600 index added 0.35% Friday, its fourth consecutive daily gain. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025 In Game 4, Anunoby and Bridges combined to force three consecutive stops against Cunningham in crunch time to secure the win. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consecutive

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French consecutif "following one after the other," borrowed from Medieval Latin consecūtīvus "following as a result or effect," from Latin consecūtus, past participle of consequī "to come after, succeed in time, follow as a necessary consequence" + -īvus -ive — more at consequent entry 2

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consecutive was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Consecutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consecutive. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

consecutive

adjective
con·​sec·​u·​tive kən-ˈsek-(y)ət-iv How to pronounce consecutive (audio)
: following one after the other in order
consecutively adverb
Etymology

from French consécutif "following in a series, consecutive," from Latin consecutus, past participle of consequi "to follow," from con, com- "with, together" and sequi "to follow" — related to sequel

Legal Definition

consecutive

adjective
con·​sec·​u·​tive
: following one after the other in order
consecutively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on consecutive

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