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

Bloomberg | Getty Images The toy industry is headed for its second consecutive annual sales decline, but it’s got one thing propping it up: colorful, interlocking plastic bricks. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024

The project aims to enhance walkability through a fresh routing and will be executed over two consecutive winters, with completion anticipated in 2028. —Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Then consecutive baskets by Jackson and Krezmien, and the St. Xavier High School basketball team had built a 19-3 lead after five minutes of near-perfect play. —Rich Barak, The Courier-Journal, 23 Dec. 2024

At one point, the defense forced six consecutive stops. —Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 23 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