successive

adjective

suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈse-siv How to pronounce successive (audio)
1
: following in order : following each other without interruption
their fourth successive victory
2
: characterized by or produced in succession
successively adverb
successiveness noun

Examples of successive in a Sentence

a trait found in successive generations made the honor roll for three successive school terms
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.
Each successive older generation has lower rates, with 14.2% of Millennials, 5.1% of Generation X, 3.0% of Baby Boomers and 1.8% of the Silent Generation. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 The rest is technique: a brief rinse (no need to wait for the water to run clear), a longer soak, a shorter cook and two separate but successive rests — before and after the rice is fluffed. Eric Kim, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 For the 17th successive game at Anfield, Liverpool scored two or more goals, an achievement that broke the record previously set in the 1893-94 season. Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025 Lots can go wrong, but nothing bad happens unless all the holes line up in successive layers of Swiss cheese. Matthew L. Wald, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for successive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of successive was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Successive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successive. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

successive

adjective
suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈses-iv How to pronounce successive (audio)
: following in order : following each other without interruption
failed in three successive tries
successively adverb
successiveness noun

Legal Definition

successive

adjective
suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈse-siv How to pronounce successive (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to succession
successive rights
b
: created by succession
2
: following in order : following each other without interruption
successive bankruptcy filings
3
: of, relating to, or being a petition for habeas corpus that raises a claim already adjudicated
successively adverb
successiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on successive

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