successive

adjective

suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈse-siv 

1

: following in order : following each other without interruption

their fourth successive victory

2

: characterized by or produced in succession

successively adverb

successiveness noun

Synonyms

• back-to-back
• consecutive
• sequent
• sequential
• straight
• succeeding
• successional

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

These include: World Cruises (typically 3-4 months long), Grand Voyages (usually 35-70 nights), and Back-to-back cruises (successive cruises on the same ship without disembarking). —Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Such conventional wisdom holds that each successive generation will become more egalitarian and enjoy more opportunities than the last. —Marianne Cooper, Harvard Business Review, 1 Nov. 2024

His company, which operates payments service Square, money transfer app CashApp, and music streaming platform Tidal, plans its second round of successive layoffs in December, two employees familiar with the plans told Fortune. —Kali Hays, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024

Yang had worked on successive generations of the iPhone at Apple and later at self-driving vehicle companies Zoox and Cruise. —Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

successive

adjective

suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈses-iv 

: 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 

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