subsequent

adjective

sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt 

-sə-ˌkwent

: following in time, order, or place

subsequent events

a subsequent clause in the treaty

subsequent noun

Did you know?

Subsequent vs. Consequent

The English language has many ways to indicate that something has come after another thing, but a number of these words have subtle differences that you may want to observe.

Something is subsequent if it follows something else in time, order, or place. Its meaning is very similar to that of following or later, but it has a more formal tone to it and may imply that something not only follows but in some way grows out of or is otherwise closely connected with what precedes it (“their courtship and subsequent marriage”).

Consequent may also be used of something that follows, but that does so explicitly as a result of something else (“I said an insensitive thing and the consequent argument lasted for days”).

There may be occasions when either subsequent or consequent would work ("her wounding and subsequent [or consequent] loss of blood"); your choice in such cases would depend upon whether you want to stress the order of events or the causal relationship between one event and another.

Synonyms

• after
• ensuing
• later
• posterior

Examples of subsequent in a Sentence

Her subsequent account of her ordeal, "The Upstairs Room" (1972), was a young adult tour de force, winning a Newbery Honor and other awards. Compared with Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl," it is sparer and sterner. —Leslie Garis, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009

In the past, collectors would often hand over partial ownership of a painting—usually from 10% to 20%—and take a tax deduction for an equivalent percentage of the appraised value. The write-off on subsequent donations could rise each time the painting's value grew. Donors got a tax break, and museums got the art to exhibit for a period of time each year. Many such paintings were ultimately bequeathed to the museums. —Jeanne McDowell, Time, 20 Nov. 2006

In 1991, the Nurses' Health Study found that women receiving hormone therapy (estrogen and progestin) enjoyed a big (44 percent) reduction in the risk of coronary artery disease, and millions of women were encouraged to begin the therapy to counteract the effects of menopause. But in 2002, the Women's Health Initiative produced a radically different conclusion: Hormone therapy increases the risk of coronary events in post-menopausal women by 20 percent. A subsequent study confirmed that result. —Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005

The rate of population growth reached a peak in 1999 and declined in subsequent years.

Her work had a great influence on subsequent generations.

Subsequent studies confirmed their findings.

his arrest and subsequent conviction

Recent Examples on the Web

This influential pair very likely steered Lan’s meteoric rise and her subsequent fall from grace. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

The narrative of displacement, migration and renewal Prince has imagined has no dialogue or lyrics beyond those heard in the more than two dozen songs from the catalogue of the Police and Sting’s subsequent 40-year solo career. —Chris Klimek, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin subsequent-, subsequens, present participle of subsequi to follow close, from sub- near + sequi to follow — more at sub-, sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing subsequent

• subsequent to

Kids Definition

subsequent

adjective

sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt 

-sə-ˌkwent

: following in time, order, or place

subsequent events

subsequent noun

subsequently

-ˌkwent-lē 

-kwənt-

adverb

Legal Definition

subsequent

adjective

sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt, -ˌkwent 

: following in time, order, or space see also condition subsequent at condition compare precedent