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 For a second successive Sunday, the cherry blossoms remained in bloom in the capital, displaying their brilliant whiteness against a bright blue sky on Palm Sunday, this year’s first Sunday of astronomical spring. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024 However, Jiménez was forced out in 1958, and successive governments lost interest in the complex, which remained unfinished. John Otis, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 Ireland faces a number of domestic challenges, including a severe housing shortage caused partly by the failure of successive governments to invest in affordable housing and a cost-of-living crisis that has deepened deprivation. Megan Specia, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Under Abbas—who was elected in 2005 for one term that was never legitimately renewed—successive prime ministers have tried every possible reform within their power, with little to show for it. Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2024 Since then, successive Israeli governments have tried and failed to craft such a solution, constantly kicking the can down the road. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2024 In a place like the Gulf Coast, successive hurricanes and flooding create a deeper and deeper hole for people to get out of. Matt Simon, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Arsenal also made history on Monday, becoming the first side in English league soccer history to win three successive away games by five goals or more, according to Opta. Ben Church, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 In the fall of 2021, reports surfaced that Clanton had lined up two successive clerkships: the first with U.S. District Court Judge Corey Maze, of the Northern District of Alabama, and the second with Judge Pryor, of the Eleventh Circuit. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'successive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near successive

Cite this Entry

“Successive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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