What does consecutive mean?
'Consecutive' is an adjective describing things that follow one another directly and without interruption, whether in time, order, or number. It is widely used in everyday and formal contexts: a person might take three consecutive days off, a company might report losses over consecutive quarters, or a mathematician might refer to the consecutive integers 4, 5 and 6. The word's core idea is continuity of succession — each element follows the previous one immediately, with nothing missing in between. This makes it subtly different from related words such as 'sequential', which stresses ordered arrangement rather than unbroken progression. 'Consecutive' is neutral in tone and appears frequently in statistics, sports commentary, law, and education. It is often paired with a numeral ('five consecutive wins'), which sharpens its precision. Derived ultimately from Latin roots meaning 'to follow closely', it remains one of the clearest English words for expressing the notion of an unbroken run.
adjectiveFollowing one after another in unbroken or regular succession; occurring in sequence without interruption.
- Following continuously in unbroken succession, without gaps (e.g. consecutive days).
- Forming a logical sequence in which each item follows from the previous one (e.g. consecutive numbers).
"She was late for work on five consecutive mornings before her boss said anything."
"The team won three consecutive championships between 2015 and 2017."
"Consecutive integers differ by exactly one, so 7, 8 and 9 form a consecutive set."
The word 'consecutive' comes from Latin consecutus, meaning 'to follow closely behind' — literally to pursue something so tightly you never lose step.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consecutive
'Consecutive' derives from Latin consecutus, the past participle of consequi, meaning 'to follow closely' or 'to pursue'. It entered English in the early 17th century via post-classical Latin usage. The same Latin root gave rise to related English terms including 'sequence', 'consequence', and 'sequel', all sharing the underlying idea of following on from something else.
Related word forms
How consecutive is actually used
Standard register across formal and informal contexts; common in sports reporting, statistics, mathematics, and legal or administrative language. Often paired with a number ('two consecutive weeks').
Easily confused with consecutive
'Consecutive' describes things that follow immediately and directly one after another, while 'subsequent' simply means coming afterward in time — not necessarily immediately next.
'Sequential' emphasizes an ordered series (often by logic or design), whereas 'consecutive' emphasizes uninterrupted succession with no gaps.