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

Also for the second time this season, Ralston Valley (10-1) roared back to beat its rivals as junior QB Zeke Andrews ran in three touchdowns to secure the program’s third straight 10-win season and fourth consecutive quarterfinal bid. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024

The Bears didn’t well in any phase against the Orange, but Mendoza, who suffered first-half interceptions on consecutive pass attempts to set up 10 points by the Orange, tried to shoulder much of the blame. —Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

Hachimura sat out for the second consecutive night because of a sprained right ankle after missing Friday’s road win against the San Antonio Spurs. —Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024

Trump in November won re-election to the White House for a second, but not consecutive, term. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 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