If things are consecutive, they happen one after the other with no break. If there are five consecutive snowstorms on five consecutive days, you’ll have to shovel your way out on day six.
Consecutive comes from the Latin consecutus, meaning “following closely” with no gap. Just like those snowstorms — one storm happened each day, back to back, for five days in a row. Consecutive numbers also follow each other, or advance in the right order. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are consecutive numbers. You should number the pages on a term paper to keep them consecutive so the teacher doesn’t get confused.
Concurrent and Consecutive
Consecutive has a good deal in common with the complementary word concurrent. Besides the fact that both begin with the prefix con- (meaning “with, together”), each word deals with the time-order in which several things happen. Concurrent describes things that are occurring, or people who are doing something, at the same time, such as “concurrent users” of a computer program. Consecutive refers to things that are arranged or happen in a sequential order. A criminal who serves a consecutive sentence does time for one conviction after another. If that person gets a concurrent sentence, he or she undergoes all punishments at the same time.
Well, we can do you blood and love without the rhetoric and we can do you blood and rhetoric without the love and we can do you all three concurrent or consecutive.
I don’t know when, and in all that time, if it is all that time, one hundred and fifty seven coins spun consecutively have come down heads, one hundred and fifty seven consecutive times, and all you can do is play with your food.
The word ‘consecutive’ is an adjective which means ‘following continuously’, or in ordered sequence without any interruptions. It originates from Latin word consecutus, suggesting the idea of ‘following closely’.
The term ‘consecutive’ is applicable both in formal paperwork and casual conversation. Here are some examples:
They won five consecutive matches in the tournament.
If you fail to attend three consecutive meetings, your membership may be reconsidered.
In both of these sentences, consecutive means ‘one after the other without a break.’
In regards to criminal law, consecutive sentences mean that each sentence must be served individually and in the order in which they were pronounced. Concurrent sentences, on contrary, are served at the same time.
‘Consecutive’ can also be applied to events occurring over multiple days. For example:
We’ve had three consecutive days of rain.
It rained for five consecutive days.
As for remembering the word ‘consecutive,’ associating it with orderly events or a series of actions could help. Think of any series of events that happen one after another without a break, like the steps to prepare a recipe or even getting ready in the morning!
I hope this explanation clarifies the different ways ‘consecutive’ is used. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions!