Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Following one after another in an unbroken sequence: Describes events, actions, or items that occur or are arranged in a continuous order without interruption.
   • Consecutive: Happening or existing one after the other without a break.

Usage

The adjective "successive" is used to describe a series where each element directly follows the previous one. It emphasizes the uninterrupted, sequential nature of the items or events. It is often placed before a noun (e.g., successive days) or used after a linking verb (e.g., The victories were successive).

Examples

• Before a noun:
  • The team won five successive championships. (The team won five championships in a row without losing in between.)
  • He gave three successive presentations without a break. (He gave three presentations one immediately after the other.)
• After a linking verb:
  • The failures were successive, leading to a major review. (The failures happened one after another.)
  • The days of rain were successive, causing flooding. (The rainy days followed each other without a dry day in between.)

Advanced Usage

• "In successive years/generations/etc.": Used to indicate something happening in consecutive, unbroken periods.
  • The festival has grown in size in successive years. (The festival has gotten bigger each year without a break.)
• "Successive stages/phases": Describes parts of a process that follow in a strict, linear order.
  • The project will be completed in three successive stages. (The project has three phases that must be done one after the other.)

Variants and Related Words

• Successively (adverb): In a successive manner; one after another.
  • He was promoted successively to manager and then director. (He was promoted first to manager and then, following that, to director.)
• Succession (noun): A number of people or things following one after the other; the process of following in order.
  • A succession of warm days made the crops grow quickly. (A series of warm days happening one after another.)

Synonyms

• Consecutive: Following continuously; in unbroken or logical sequence.
• Sequential: Forming or following a logical order or sequence.
• In a row: Occurring one after another consecutively (more informal).

Antonyms

• Intermittent: Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
• Sporadic: Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.

Adjective

1. in regular succession without gaps
   • serial concerts