noun
chronological order
kron-uh-LOJ-ih-kuhl OR-der
Chronological order (noun) means an arrangement of events, items or records by time, starting with the earliest and moving forward to the most recent. Example: “List your jobs in chronological order, beginning with your first.”
noun
1
An arrangement of events, items or records by time, starting with the earliest and moving forward to the most recent.
"List your jobs in chronological order, beginning with your first."
"The exhibition presents her paintings in chronological order across four rooms."
How to use chronological order
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPutting things in the order they happened, earliest first.
When to use it
Neutral; common in education, admin and publishing.
Memory tip
The preposition is in: arrange them in chronological order, not by chronological order.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
reverse chronological order
sequential order
alphabetical order
Common pairings
in chronological order
strict chronological order
reverse chronological order
arrange in chronological order
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List your jobs in _____, beginning with your first.
Etymology
From Greek khronos 'time' and logos 'account, study', via chronology.
Synonyms
View more →
time order
sequential order
date order
Antonyms
reverse chronological order
random order
Rhymes for chronological order
See all rhymes for chronological order →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between chronological and reverse chronological order?
Chronological order runs oldest to newest. Reverse chronological order runs newest to oldest. CVs, blogs and bank statements normally use reverse chronological order so the most recent and relevant material appears first.
Should a CV be in chronological order?
Almost always reverse chronological — current or most recent role at the top. Employers scan for what you are doing now, so burying it under a first Saturday job costs you attention.
Is chronological order the same as sequential order?
Not quite. Chronological order is specifically ordered by time. Sequential order means following any defined sequence, which might be steps in a process, alphabetical position or numbered parts — time is only one possibility.
What is the meaning of chronological order?
"chronological order" (noun) means an arrangement of events, items or records by time, starting with the earliest and moving forward to the most recent.
