What does "consecutive" mean?
A sequence of notes or chords that results from repeated shifts in pitch of the same interval.
Consecutive
/kənˈsɛkjʊtɪv/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sequence of notes or chords that results from repeated shifts in pitch of the same interval.
- Grammar: consecutive is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: back-to-back, sequential, serial, successive.
- Useful contrasts: concurrent, nonconsecutive, simultaneously.
- Usage evidence: Stock prices declined for five consecutive days.
How to use "consecutive"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "consecutive" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "consecutive" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "consecutive" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "consecutive" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "consecutive" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "back-to-back" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "consecutive", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A sequence of notes or chords that results from repeated shifts in pitch of the same interval. countable
"The theory suggests, but does not state explicitly, that the prohibition of consecutives is the stricter the nearer the interval in question lies to the fundamental component of a blend."
- 2 A linguistic form that implies or describes an event that follows temporally from another. countable
"What marks the consecutive is its special morphology and syntax indicating the temporal succession of actions."
- 3 Consecutive interpretation. countable, uncountable
"Having an audience would have allowed a more natural setting for the consecutive. The choice of individual sessions was dictated by the following considerations: (i) given that the recordings were made on an itinerant basis (sometimes at subjects' homes), it would have proved practically impossible to arrange an audience for every session; (ii) recruiting an audience for the consecutives recorded at university would have limited the pool of potential subjects without prior knowledge of the speeches; (iii) it would have been inconsistent to record some interpretations before an audience and others in individual sessions."
Adjective
- 1 Following, in succession, without interruption. not-comparable
"He follows Frédi Kanouté, who achieved the feat in 2006 and 2007 for Sevilla, in scoring in consecutive Uefa Cup/Europa League finals."
- 2 Having some logical sequence. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 one after the other wordnet
- 2 successive (without a break) wordnet
- 3 in regular succession without gaps wordnet
Adverb
- 1 in a sequential manner wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Stock prices declined for five consecutive days."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "consecutive"?
Common synonyms include: back-to-back, sequential, serial, successive, adjacent, after.
How do you use "consecutive" in a sentence?
Stock prices declined for five consecutive days.
How do you pronounce "consecutive"?
Pronounced /kənˈsɛkjʊtɪv/.
Etymology
From French consécutif, from Medieval Latin cōnsecūtīvus, from Latin cōnsecūtus (“followed up”), from Latin cōnsequor (“to travel”).