consecutive
adjective
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Concurrent and Consecutive
Consecutive has a good deal in common with the complementary word concurrent. Besides the fact that both begin with the prefix con- (meaning “with, together”), each word deals with the time-order in which several things happen. Concurrent describes things that are occurring, or people who are doing something, at the same time, such as “concurrent users” of a computer program. Consecutive refers to things that are arranged or happen in a sequential order. A criminal who serves a consecutive sentence does time for one conviction after another. If that person gets a concurrent sentence, he or she undergoes all punishments at the same time.
Examples of consecutive in a Sentence
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2025
Though Hamad International dropped to second place as the Singapore hub recovered traffic volumes after Covid, the airport retained pole position as best airport in the Middle East for the 11th consecutive year.
—Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Through the end of September, Homeless Trust outreach workers were mobilized for dozens of heat advisory days — generally when the heat index, a combination of heat and relative humidity, is expected to be 105 degrees or higher for two consecutive hours.
—Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
New Jersey, meanwhile, boasts a top-10 defense but is running a bit cold lately, with three consecutive losses, including a 7-2 loss to the Boston Bruins last week.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consecutive
Cite this Entry
“Consecutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consecutive. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consecutive
adjective
from French consécutif "following in a series, consecutive," from Latin consecutus, past participle of consequi "to follow," from con, com- "with, together" and sequi "to follow" — related to sequel
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