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

That’s neither condescension nor criticism: George Lucas created a swashbuckling fairy tale set in space, and its mantle has been taken up by successive generations of filmmakers who encountered it at a formative age. —Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024

Small but successive plantings guarantee continual harvests. 25. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024

Thanksgiving in North America — and early on Friday, Nov. 29 from northern-tier U.S. states after space weather forecasters predicted two successive geomagnetic storms. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

With sanctions, however, GDP per capita declined by an extraordinary 71 percent—equivalent to almost three successive Great Depressions. —Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 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