sequel

noun

se·​quel ˈsē-kwəl How to pronounce sequel (audio)
 also  -ˌkwel
1
2
a
: subsequent development
b
: the next installment (as of a speech or story)
especially : a literary, cinematic, or televised work continuing the course of a story begun in a preceding one

Examples of sequel in a Sentence

The new film is a sequel to the very successful comedy that came out five years ago. He is busy writing the book's sequel. There is an interesting sequel to my date with her that I'll share with you later.
Recent Examples on the Web At this rate, the big-budget sequel will end its box office run as the lowest-grossing MCU movie in history — by a landslide. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Nov. 2023 There's no Elf remake or sequel on the table at the moment — but Susie Farris can dream! Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 This was the second film directed by Leonard Nimoy (who played the original Spock), a sequel to Nimoy's Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) and completing a narrative arc that began with 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023 Good Burger are now old enough to subscribe to Paramount+ and can watch the sequel, which comes out just over a quarter of a century after the original. James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2023 The sequel is directed by newcomer Mark Molloy and was written by Will Beall (Aquaman). James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023 The collection is the sequel to last year’s A Philly Special Christmas, which reached No. 80 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Vinyl Albums chart (billed as by various artists). Xander Zellner, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2023 Two of the year’s biggest sequels — survival-horror title Alan Wake 2 from Remedy Entertainment (above left) and role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 from Larian Studios (above right) — nabbed the most nods with eight each, including Game of the Year. Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023 The film — a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, which opened to $153 million back in 2019 — made the most of any film released over the weekend, but its $47 million-grossed pales in comparison to the 32 other films Marvel Studios has released within its interconnected universe since 2008's Iron Man. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French sequele, from Latin sequela, from sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sequel was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sequel

Cite this Entry

“Sequel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sequel. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

sequel

noun
se·​quel ˈsē-kwəl How to pronounce sequel (audio)
1
: an event that follows or comes afterward : result
2
: a book, motion picture, or television program that continues a story begun in a preceding one
Etymology

Middle English sequel, sequele "follower, series," from early French sequelle (same meaning), from Latin sequella, sequela "follower," from sequi "to follow" — related to consecutive, pursue, second entry 1, sequence

Medical Definition

sequel

noun
se·​quel
ˈsē-kwəl also -ˌkwel
: sequela
gangrene is … a sequel of woundsRobert Chawner

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