successive
gb/səksˈɛsɪv/ us/səksˈɛsɪv/
B2
English
~ 5300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
following one after another
Happening or coming one after another in order, with no gap in between.
Usage pattern:
successive [plural noun]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "successive" with "successful". "Successive" means "one after another", while "successful" means "ending well" or "achieving a goal". Learners may also use "successive" where "subsequent" is better; "subsequent" just means "later", but "successive" usually implies no gaps in the sequence.
Synonyms
consecutive (Very close in meaning; often the best direct substitute, especially for events in time like days or years.)
|
sequential (More formal and technical; often used for ordered steps or stages rather than everyday events.)
|
following (Broader and less strict; may just mean coming later, not necessarily one immediately after another.)
Antonyms
nonconsecutive (Explicitly states that things do not come one immediately after another.)
|
separate (Emphasizes that things are not in a continuous sequence or closely linked.)
Collocations
successive years
|successive days
|successive generations
|successive governments
|successive wins
|successive defeats
Themes
time
|numbers
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The team has won the championship for three successive years.
- She worked for four successive nights without a break.
- The country experienced five successive governments in just ten years.
- The disease became weaker over successive generations of the virus.
- The company reported successive quarters of rising profits.
Learner examples
- He was late for class on three successive days.
- The shop was closed for two successive weeks.
- Our team lost four successive games.
- She visited her grandmother on five successive Sundays.
- Sales went up for three successive months.
Grammar
Dictionary form
successive
IPA
GB/səksˈɛsɪv/
US/səksˈɛsɪv/
Syllables & stress
suc - cess - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cess)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: successive
Word family
Core family
succession
noun B1
successively
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unsuccessful
adjective B1
unsuccessfully
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.