successive
suhk-SESS-iv
/səkˈses.ɪv/
Following one after another or in an uninterrupted sequence.
Emphasizes the lack of gaps between events.
The story behind the word. From 'sub-' (under/after) and 'cedere' (to go). It literally means 'to go after'. If you are the 'successor' to a throne, you 'go after' the previous king.
Word relationships
- consecutive: These are nearly identical, though 'consecutive' is more common in sports and 'successive' in academic writing.
- intermittent: Intermittent means occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous.
Commonly confused with
- successful: Successful means achieving an aim; successive means following in order.
Word family
- succession (noun): A number of people or things sharing a specified characteristic and following one after the other.
- successor (noun): A person or thing that succeeds another.
Collocations
- successive generations
- successive attempts
- successive governments
Example sentences
- "He won the championship for the third successive year." Sports
- "The region suffered through five successive days of record-breaking heat." Weather
Memory hook
Think of 'success'. To have 'successive' wins, you must have 'success' after 'success'. One right after another.
When not to use
Don't use if there are significant breaks or interruptions between the items.
Fun facts
- In ecology, 'succession' is the process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.
Related words
Explore more words
subsequent, continuously, continuous, seamless, uninterrupted, sequence
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