iteration
gb/ˌɪtɚˈeɪʃən/ us/ˌɪtɚˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 9400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
a particular version of something
One version of a product, design, or idea during its development.
Usage pattern:
[iteration] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “iteration” when they mean a simple repeat of the same action (e.g., *“Do one more iteration of push-ups”*). In everyday language, “iteration” is more often used for a distinct version of something (software, products, courses) rather than for physical repetitions. Another mistake is using it as a verb (*“We iteration the design”*); the verb is “iterate,” or you can say “make another iteration of the design.”
Synonyms
version (More general and common; does not always suggest an ongoing development process, while “iteration” often implies repeated improvement.)
Antonyms
original (Refers to the first form before any later versions or iterations are created.)
Collocations
latest iteration
|first iteration
|current iteration
|new iteration
|early iteration
|next iteration
Themes
business
|technology
|design
Examples
- The latest iteration of the app adds offline support.
- In this iteration of the course, we included more practical exercises.
- Each new iteration of the product gets lighter and faster.
- The first iteration of the logo was too complex for small screens.
- They are already planning the next iteration of the device for release next year.
Learner examples
- The latest iteration of the phone has a better camera.
- This iteration of the game is more fun than the last one.
- In the first iteration of the website, the text was too small.
- We will test this iteration of the design with users.
- The next iteration of the car will use less fuel.
Noun
C1
action
2
repeating a process for improvement
The process of doing something again and again, usually to make it better or to reach a goal.
Usage pattern:
[iteration] of [a process]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “iteration” just means “again,” and use it where “time” or “attempt” is more natural (e.g., *“on the second iteration I visited London”* instead of “the second time I visited London”). “Iteration” usually refers to repeating a process or set of changes, not everyday repeated events like trips or meals.
Synonyms
repetition (General word for doing something again; does not always suggest learning, refinement, or step‑by‑step improvement, which “iteration” often implies.)
Antonyms
one-off (Describes something done only once, without repeating or refining it through multiple iterations.)
Collocations
through iteration
|by iteration
|successive iterations
|multiple iterations
|continuous iteration
|rapid iteration
Themes
business
|technology
|science
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Their design process relies on constant iteration based on user feedback.
- After several iterations of the survey, the questions became much clearer.
- The model improves with each iteration of training data.
- Innovation often comes from rapid iteration rather than a single big idea.
- They achieved a good solution only after many painful iterations of the plan.
Learner examples
- We improved the plan through many iterations.
- After a few iterations of the test, the results were stable.
- The team used iteration to make the product better.
- With each iteration of the process, the error became smaller.
- Iteration helps us learn what works and what does not.
Noun
technical
C1
event
3
one pass through a loop
One time that a loop in a program runs from start to finish.
Usage pattern:
[iteration] of [a loop]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse “iteration” with “recursion” in programming. Iteration is repeating a block of code using loops (for, while), whereas recursion is a function calling itself. Learners may also say *“one iterate of the loop”* instead of the correct “one iteration of the loop.”
Synonyms
cycle (Often used in computing and engineering with a similar meaning, but can be broader and not limited to code loops.)
Antonyms
termination (Refers to the loop or process stopping, in contrast to another iteration running.)
Collocations
each iteration
|for every iteration
|loop iteration
|per iteration
|first iteration of the loop
|number of iterations
Themes
technology
|science
Examples
- During each iteration of the loop, the counter is increased by one.
- The algorithm stops after 100 iterations or when the error is below 0.01.
- This variable is reset at the beginning of every iteration of the while loop.
- The bug only appears on the third iteration of the function call sequence.
- We log the state of the model at the end of every training iteration.
Learner examples
- In this program, the loop has ten iterations.
- On each iteration, the code reads one line from the file.
- The loop ends after the first failed iteration.
- The value changes a little with every iteration of the loop.
- The program crashed on the second iteration of the test loop.
Noun
technical
C2
action
4
repeated application of a function
In math, using the same function again and again, each time taking the result from before as the new input.
Usage pattern:
[iteration] of [a function]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in mathematics this meaning of “iteration” is more specific than everyday “repetition”; it always involves feeding each output back as the next input to the same function.
Synonyms
repeated application (A descriptive phrase rather than a standard technical term; it explains the idea but lacks the compact technical sense of “iteration.”)
Antonyms
single application (Refers to using a function only once, without the repeated steps that define iteration.)
Collocations
iteration of a function
|fixed point of iteration
|under iteration
|Newton iteration
|iterative method
|convergence of the iteration
Themes
science
|mathematics
|education
Examples
- Under iteration of the function f, all points move toward zero.
- The convergence of the iteration depends on the initial guess.
- Newton iteration is used to find roots of nonlinear equations.
- This sequence is defined by iteration of the map x ↦ x² − 1.
- The diagram shows the behavior of orbits under repeated iteration.
Learner examples
- In this example, iteration of the function makes the numbers smaller.
- The method uses iteration of f(x) to find the answer.
- After many iterations of the function, the values get close to 3.
- We study the limit of the sequence made by iteration of this map.
- The teacher showed how iteration can make the result stable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
iteration
IPA
GB/ˌɪtɚˈeɪʃən/
US/ˌɪtɚˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
it - er - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (er)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: iteration
- Plural: iteration, iterations
Word family
Expressions
iterate on
1/ɪtɚˌeɪt ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
technical
improve something by repeating work
to make small changes to something again and again so that it becomes better
Examples
- We’ll iterate on this design after we see how users react.
- The team is iterating on the prototype every week based on test results.
- You need to iterate on your idea several times before launching it.
the latest iteration of
2/ðə lˈeɪtɪst ˌɪtɚˈeɪʃən əv/
fixed phrase
the most recent version of
the newest version of something in a line of versions
Examples
- The latest iteration of the software fixes several security issues.
- In the latest iteration of the policy, remote work is allowed twice a week.
- The latest iteration of their logo is much simpler and cleaner.