successive

adjective

suc·​ces·​sive sək-ˈse-siv How to pronounce successive (audio)
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.
The senior index analyst has worked at S&P Dow Jones for 49 years, and has seen successive waves of companies and sectors arrive and exit from the list. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025 Liverpool’s £116million ($156m at the current rate) summer signing has not hit the ground running in the way their supporters will have hoped and after starting in successive defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray over the past six days, questions are being asked. Andy Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025 Shildt is the only Padres manager to win that many games in successive seasons, as Bruce Bochy managed the ‘06 club and Bud Black took over in ‘07. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Successive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successive. Accessed 4 Oct. 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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