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

Bitcoin touched a record high above $111,000, and oil prices slid after Bloomberg said oil producing member countries, or OPEC+, are discussing a potential third consecutive oil production surge in July, with an output hike of 411,000 barrels a day among the options under consideration. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Seeman, who has pitched all 28 innings in Winter Springs’ past four postseason victories, doused the fire with three consecutive outs. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025

Four years later, Bueckers was back at the Target Center with UConn as a sophomore point guard in her second consecutive Final Four appearance. —Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 22 May 2025

And South Florida can’t get enough of it: As the Fightin’ Maurices continue their march toward a second consecutive NHL Stanley Cup championship, fans will gather in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday for one of the largest official watch parties in Panthers’ history — at the War Memorial Auditorium. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025

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

Rhymes for consecutive

• executive

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