successive

adjective

suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈse-siv How to pronounce successive (audio)
Synonyms of successivenext
1
: following in order : following each other without interruption
their fourth successive victory
2
: characterized by or produced in succession
successively adverb
successiveness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Specifically, Spencer Stuart research has found that when a CEO ran two successive companies, 70% of them performed better on the first. Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 The judge was referring to the successive list of four African countries where officials had sought to remove Abrego Garcia seemingly without commitments from those countries, as well as officials' affirmations that Costa Rica withdrew its offer to accept him, a claim later proven untrue. Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025 The grooming gang scandal casts a long shadow over Britain’s immigration debate and has fueled public anger over the use by successive governments of hotels to house asylum seekers. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025 That will help establish if the successive strikes were plausibly tied to the mission objective of destroying the still floating vessel and stop the salvaging of the drugs. MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for successive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Successive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successive. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

successive

adjective
suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈses-iv How to pronounce successive (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce successive (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on successive

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