continuum

noun con·tin·u·um \ kən-ˈtin-yü-əm \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of continuum

plural continua play \kən-ˈtin-yü-ə\ also continuums

1 : a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees

"good" and "bad" … stand at opposite ends of a continuum instead of describing the two halves of a line
—Wayne Shumaker

2 : the set of real numbers including both the rationals and the irrationals; broadly : a compact set which cannot be separated into two sets neither of which contains a limit point of the other

See continuum defined for English-language learners

See continuum defined for kids

Examples of continuum in a Sentence

His motives for volunteering lie somewhere on the continuum between charitable and self-serving.
a continuum of temperatures ranging from very cold to very hot

Recent Examples of continuum from the Web

Recovery requires a continuum of care—from detox, to residential treatment, to transitional housing—to reclaim your life.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Transcript: Read Walsh’s second inaugural speech," 1 Jan. 2018
The county will begin rolling out a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, a state program that aims to provide a continuum of care for low-income residents facing addiction.

— city news service, Ramona Sentinel, "County to triple spending to treat addiction," 28 Mar. 2018
At that point, rip a hole in the space-time continuum, begin anew, and try to vex the Veks again.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Into the Breach review: Starship Troopers meets chess in a tactics masterpiece," 27 Feb. 2018
All of that behavior needs to be confronted, but there is a continuum.

— lexy perez, The Hollywood Reporter, "Matt Damon Apologizes for "Spectrum of Behavior" Sexual Misconduct Remarks," 16 Jan. 2018
Patents, though, are only one cobblestone in the continuum of invention that paves the way to progress.

— daniel c. schlenoff, Scientific American, "High Technology in 1867," 15 Aug. 2017
The brain is a biotic organ, embedded in a continuum of natural causes and connections that together contribute to our biological minds.

— joe peterburger, National Geographic, "Why the Brain-Body Connection Is More Important Than We Think," 17 Mar. 2018
In New York over the weekend, this trio was joined by Phish’s Trey Anastasio for a generous set that rattled the jam band space-time continuum.

— jeremy d. goodwin, BostonGlobe.com, "Phil Lesh and Bob Weir’s explorations never get old," 8 Mar. 2018
For many, the high country trout hunt is a multigenerational continuum involving brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sierra fishing trip beckons," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'continuum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.