Definition

Adverb: - In turn; one after another; sequentially: Indicates that actions, events, or people follow a specific order, one following the other until the end of a sequence or list.

Usage

• Used to describe a process where things happen or people act in a consecutive, orderly fashion.
• Often precedes verbs or verb phrases to modify how an action is carried out.
• Can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

Usage Examples

• (Everyone, please introduce yourselves one by one.)
• (The candidates entered the examination room in turn.)
• (We will address each issue sequentially.)
• (Please come up to receive your prizes in the order your names are called.)

Advanced Usage

• "theo thứ tự lần lượt": in sequential order; in consecutive order.
  • Các tài liệu được sắp xếp theo thứ tự lần lượt từ A đến Z. (The documents are arranged in consecutive order from A to Z.)
• "lần lượt từng...": each one in turn; one by one.
  • Giáo viên kiểm tra lần lượt từng học sinh. (The teacher checked each student one by one.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lần (classifier/noun): time, occasion, instance (e.g., - one time).
• Lượt (classifier/noun): turn, round (e.g., - it's my turn).
• Tuần tự (adverb): sequentially, in succession (similar meaning, slightly more formal).
• Thứ tự (noun): order, sequence.

Synonyms

• Tuần tự: in sequence, successively.
• Theo thứ tự: in order.
• Từng cái một: one by one, one at a time.
• Nối tiếp nhau: consecutively, following one another.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Đến lượt (ai): It's (someone's) turn.
  • Đến lượt bạn phát biểu rồi. (It's your turn to speak.)
• Lượt này đến lượt khác: time after time; one turn after another.
  • Họ thay phiên nhau làm việc, lượt này đến lượt khác. (They took turns working, one shift after another.)

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning emphasizes a predefined or natural order. It is not random.
• It implies completion of the entire sequence, not just a single step.
• While often translated as "in turn," it carries a stronger sense of an exhaustive, complete procession through a list or series than the English phrase sometimes does.

1. in turn; by roster