consecutive

adjective

con·​sec·​u·​tive kən-ˈse-kyə-tiv 

-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.

Synonyms

• back-to-back
• sequent
• sequential
• straight
• succeeding
• successional
• successive

Examples of consecutive in a Sentence

the team's winning streak has lasted for seven consecutive games

Recent Examples on the Web

Amongst these elite earners sits Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive drivers' championship in 2024, who tops the Forbes list with massive earnings of $75 million. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

The 2024 FedEx Cup champion is the first player since Tiger Woods to win Player of the Year honors in three consecutive seasons. —Jenna West, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024

He was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to consecutive life sentences, although the payment to the informant was not disclosed during the trial. —Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, tops the list for the third consecutive year followed by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who remains at No. 2. —Forbes Press Releases, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

consecutive

adjective

con·​sec·​u·​tive kən-ˈsek-(y)ət-iv 

: 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