What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
successively
Example
The team won the championship three years successively. [successively: adverb]
Example
The company has been profitable for five quarters successively. [successively: adverb]
continuously
Example
The machine runs continuously to produce the necessary parts. [continuously: adverb]
Example
The rain fell continuously for three days. [continuously: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Continuously is more commonly used than successively in everyday language, as it is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts. Successively is less common and is typically used in more formal or technical writing.
Whatβs the difference in the tone of formality between successively and continuously?
Successively has a more formal connotation than continuously, which is more commonly used in informal contexts. However, both words can be used in formal writing depending on the context.