sequel

noun se·quel \ ˈsē-kwəl also -ˌkwel \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of sequel

1 : consequence, result

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

See sequel defined for English-language learners

See sequel defined for kids

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 of sequel from the Web

Scaramucci met Pressman on the set of the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Anthony Scaramucci’s Next Act? Producing Al Pacino’s Latest Movie," 6 Apr. 2018
The sequel, from Legendary and Universal, is a far bigger play internationally.

— pamela mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, "Weekend Box Office: 'Ready Player One' Wins Easter Egg Hunt With $53M," 1 Apr. 2018
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997): The sequel's simply a poor genetic clone of the first Jurassic Park.

— brian truitt, USA TODAY, "All of Steven Spielberg's movies (including 'Ready Player One'), ranked," 28 Mar. 2018
Now, against all odds, the sequel is here, and with a singularly unique and in-demand talent like John Boyega in the leading role, no less.

— tom philip, GQ, "Pacific Rim Uprising's John Boyega Wants to See Everyone Succeed," 19 Mar. 2018
But the sequel is far from a perfect mirror image of its predecessor due to the glaring absence of Alan Rickman, who died last January.

— emma dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "#TheLIST:Ultimate Investment Pieces," 17 May 2017
The writers of this action sequel are magnificently larcenous.

— michael heaton, cleveland.com, "'Pacific Rim' sequel will please fans of the original (review)," 23 Mar. 2018
Submarining Submarining is sometimes the sequel to ghosting.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "9 Annoying Dating Trends Every Modern Romantic Needs to Know," 22 Mar. 2018
Pacific Rim 2: Uprising PG13 In this sequel, the Kaiju are monsters from the sea bent on destroying humankind, but even though humans have invented giant robots called Jaegers, will this be enough to fight them?

— guy hanford, Ramona Sentinel, "Flickers: 'Midnight Sun' opens Friday," 22 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of sequel

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

sequel Synonyms

Phrases

matter of course;

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

SEQUEL Defined for English Language Learners

sequel

noun

Definition of sequel for English Language Learners

: a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.
: something that happens after and usually as a result of a previous event

SEQUEL Defined for Kids

sequel

noun se·quel \ ˈsē-kwəl \

Definition of sequel for Students

1 : a book or movie that continues a story begun in another

2 : an event that follows or comes afterward : result

Word Root of sequel

The Latin word sequī, meaning “to follow,” and its form secutus give us the roots sequ and sec. Words from the Latin sequī have something to do with following. Something second follows what came first. A sequel is a book or movie that follows another and continues the story. A sequence is the order in which one thing follows another. A consequence is a result that follows from a condition or action.