successive

The word “successive” means following one after another without interruption. In plain terms, coming one right after the other, in a row.

“Successive” is pronounced suhk-SEH-sihv (/səkˈsɛsɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “successive” used in a sentence: “The team won five successive championships.”

Words with a similar meaning to “successive” include in a series.

“Successive” is an adjective.

The word “successive” comes from Latin. From Latin succedere ("to succeed").

“Successive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Successive and consecutive are very close in meaning, both describing things that follow one after another without interruption, and are often used interchangeably. Consecutive is slightly more common in contexts involving numbers or sequences, such as 'three consecutive days,' while successive is common in phrases like 'successive governments' or 'successive attempts.'

Successive typically implies a sequence of at least two or more items following one after another, and is most naturally used with three or more, as in 'three successive victories,' though it can technically apply to two consecutive occurrences as well.

Successive is commonly paired with nouns describing repeated events or periods over time, such as successive years, successive governments, successive attempts, or successive generations, emphasizing an unbroken sequence.