What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
consecutive
Example
The team won five consecutive games. [consecutive: adjective]
Example
She has worked for ten consecutive hours without a break. [consecutive: adjective]
successive
Example
The company has had three successive CEOs in the past five years. [successive: adjective]
Example
He completed the tasks in successive order as instructed. [successive: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Consecutive is more commonly used than successive in everyday language, especially when referring to numbers or events. However, successive is more commonly used in academic or formal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between consecutive and successive?
Successive is generally considered more formal than consecutive, and is often used in academic or technical writing. Consecutive is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
