successive

Pronunciation

• IPA: /səkˈsɛsɪv/
• American: suhk-SES-iv

Origin

From Latin successivus, from successus (success, succession), derived from succedere (to follow after)

Meanings

1. Following one after another in order or sequence
2. Consecutive; happening without interruption
3. Coming after or replacing another in a series

Example Sentences

1. "The team won three successive championships from 2019 to 2021."
2. "She took four successive breaths before diving into the pool."
3. "The successive layers of paint created a beautiful depth effect."
4. "Over successive generations, the family business grew into a large corporation."

Related Words

• Forms:
  • Adverb: successively
  • Noun: succession
  • Verb: succeed
• Synonyms:
  • consecutive
  • sequential
  • continuous
  • following
  • subsequent

Memory Tricks

1. Break it into "success + ive" - think of success coming one after another
2. Think of "Sue's access" (sounds similar) - Sue needs to access things one after another
3. Visualize climbing stairs: each step succeeds the previous one in a successive order

Usage Note

Often used in formal or academic contexts to describe ordered sequences or patterns that follow one after another without interruption.