series
SEER-reez
Series (noun) means a number of related things that come one after another, or a set of connected events. Example: “A series of unfortunate events led to the company's collapse.”
noun
1
A number of related things that come one after another, or a set of connected events.
"A series of unfortunate events led to the company's collapse."
"The museum held a series of talks about local history for schoolchildren."
"A series of small changes made the app much easier to use."
2
A television or radio programme broadcast in multiple episodes.
"They binge-watched the whole series in a weekend."
"My mum loves the new detective series that is on every Sunday night."
"The final episode of the series left viewers desperate for another season."
3
In mathematics, the sum of the terms of a sequence.
"Students learn how to test whether an infinite series converges."
"The textbook shows how to add up each term of a series."
"An arithmetic series has a constant difference between each pair of terms."
4
A set of games or matches played between two teams, aiming for an overall win.
"The team clinched the series 4-1."
"The two clubs will meet in a best-of-five series to decide the champions."
"After losing the first game, they fought back and won the series."
How to use series
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group of things, episodes, or events that are connected and follow one another.
UK vs US
In British English "series" often means a full season of a TV show; in American English "season" is more common for that meaning, with "series" referring to the whole show.
Common pairings
TV series
a series of events
championship series
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Word forms
- Plural
- serieses
Fill the gap
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A _____ of unfortunate events led to the company's collapse.
Etymology
From Latin seriēs, from serere, "to join together, bind."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for series
See all rhymes for series →Frequently asked questions
What does “series” mean?
The word “series” means a number of related things that come one after another, or a set of connected events. In plain terms, a group of things, episodes, or events that are connected and follow one another.
How do you pronounce “series”?
“Series” is pronounced SEER-reez (/ˈsɪɹ.iz/ in IPA).
How do you use “series” in a sentence?
Here is “series” used in a sentence: “A series of unfortunate events led to the company's collapse.”
What is another word for “series”?
Words with a similar meaning to “series” include serie.
What part of speech is “series”?
“Series” is a noun.
Where does the word “series” come from?
The word “series” comes from Latin. From Latin seriēs, from serere, "to join together, bind.".
Is “series” a common word?
“Series” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “series” have?
“Series” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a number of related things that come one after another, or a set of connected events.
What is the difference between a series and a sequence?
A sequence is a set of things in a strict, defined order, where position matters - like the numbers 1, 2, 3. A series is a broader set of related things that follow one after another, without needing a fixed rule. Every sequence is a kind of series, but a series need not follow an exact pattern.
Is 'series' singular or plural?
Both. 'Series' keeps the same spelling in the singular and the plural: one television series, two television series. Whether it takes a singular or plural verb depends on meaning - 'this series is popular' treats it as one whole, while 'several series are airing' refers to more than one.
What is the difference between a series and a season of a TV show?
This varies by region. In British English, a 'series' is one run of episodes - what American English calls a 'season.' In American usage, 'series' means the entire show across all its seasons. So a British 'series three' is roughly an American 'season three.'
What is an example of a series?
A book series such as a trilogy, a television series, a run of concerts, or a string of unfortunate events are all examples. In each case, several related items or happenings come one after another, linked by a common thread such as a theme, a story, or a cause.
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