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¹sequence

noun se·quence \ˈsē-kwən(t)s, -ˌkwen(t)s\

: the order in which things happen or should happen

: a group of things that come one after the other

: a part of a movie, television show, etc., that deals with one subject, action, or idea

Full Definition of SEQUENCE

: a hymn in irregular meter between the gradual and Gospel in masses for special occasions (as Easter)

: a continuous or connected series: as

a : an extended series of poems united by a single theme <a sonnet sequence>

b : three or more playing cards usually of the same suit in consecutive order of rank

c : a succession of repetitions of a melodic phrase or harmonic pattern each in a new position

d : a set of elements ordered so that they can be labeled with the positive integers

e : the exact order of bases in a nucleic acid or of amino acids in a protein

f (1) : a succession of related shots or scenes developing a single subject or phase of a film story (2) : episode

a : order of succession

b : an arrangement of the tenses of successive verbs in a sentence designed to express a coherent relationship especially between main and subordinate parts

a : consequence, result

b : a subsequent development

: continuity of progression <the narrative sequence>

See sequence defined for English-language learners

See sequence defined for kids

Origin of SEQUENCE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin sequentia, from Late Latin, sequel, literally, act of following, from Latin sequent-, sequens, present participle of sequi

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SEQUENCE

Synonyms: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, effect, upshot

Antonyms: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

²sequence

transitive verb

se·quencedse·quenc·ing

Definition of SEQUENCE

: to arrange in a sequence

: to determine the sequence of chemical constituents (as amino-acid residues or nucleic-acid bases) in

First Known Use of SEQUENCE

1941

Rhymes with SEQUENCE

defense, expense, horse sense, incense, nonsense, past tense, sixth sense

SEQUENCE Defined for Kids

sequence

noun se·quence \ˈsē-kwəns\

Definition of SEQUENCE for Kids

: the order in which things are or should be connected, related, or dated <Follow the directions in sequence.>

: a group of things that come one after another <a sequence of numbers>

Word Root of SEQUENCE

The Latin word sequī, meaning “to follow,” and its form secutus give us the roots sequ and sec. Words from the Latin sequī have something to do with following. Something second follows what came first. A sequel is a book or movie that follows another and continues the story. A sequence is the order in which one thing follows another. A consequence is a result that follows from a condition or action.