Meaning & use
chronologically
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In the order in which events took place, starting with the earliest and ending with the latest.
Grammar: Not comparable; it usually follows a verb of arranging or telling: list the jobs chronologically.
Patterns
- arrange something chronologically
- listed chronologically
- go chronologically
The museum displays the paintings chronologically, from the earliest to the latest.
Please list your jobs chronologically on the form.
The biography proceeds chronologically from birth to death.
adverbnot comparable
With respect to actual age or time elapsed, as opposed to maturity or ability.
Grammar: Often in contrasts such as chronologically ten but mature for her age.
Patterns
- chronologically older
- chronologically speaking
He is chronologically sixteen but acts much older.
Chronologically speaking, the two events were only days apart.
She is chronologically younger than her cousin, though taller.
Common combinations
- arranged chronologically
- The photographs were arranged chronologically in the album.
- listed chronologically
- Her achievements are listed chronologically on the resume.
- organized chronologically
- The files are organized chronologically by date.
- chronologically ordered
- The chronologically ordered timeline made the story easy to follow.
- chronologically speaking
- Chronologically speaking, the war started before the treaty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sequentially
- Sequentially means one after another in any series, while chronologically specifically follows time.
- in order
- In order is vague, whereas chronologically tells you the order is by date.
- in sequence
- In sequence refers to any ordered series, but chronologically names time as the basis.
- temporally
- Temporally is a rare, technical word about time, whereas chronologically is the common choice for ordering events.
Opposites
Word family
- chronology noun
- a record of events in time order
- chronological adjective
- arranged in time order
- chronicle noun
- a written record of events
- anachronism noun
- something placed in the wrong time period
Commonly confused: chronologically or alphabetically? chronologically or chronically?
chronologically vs alphabetically
Alphabetically means in A to Z order, not by time.
chronologically vs chronically
Chronically means lasting a long time or constantly, as in a chronically ill patient, and is unrelated to time order.
Practice
The history textbook presents the events ______, beginning with the earliest.
Choose one answer.
Chronologically means in time order. Chronically sounds close but means persistently, and alphabetically orders by letters.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chronologically”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.