Meaning & use
sequential
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableformal
Arranged or happening in a fixed order, with each item following the one before it.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: sequential steps; can also follow be.
Patterns
- in sequential order
- sequential steps
Follow the sequential steps in the manual and do not skip any.
The pages are numbered in sequential order.
The software handles each task in a sequential manner.
adjectivebefore a nouncomputingtechnical
In computing, describing a process that handles instructions or data one at a time in a set order rather than all at once.
Grammar: Used before a noun in technical writing: sequential access, sequential processing.
Patterns
- sequential access
- sequential processing
The old tape drive only allows sequential access to the data.
Sequential processing is slower than running tasks in parallel.
The program reads the file in a sequential way.
Word forms
| comparative | more sequential |
|---|---|
| superlative | most sequential |
Common combinations
- sequential order
- List the events in sequential order.
- sequential steps
- The recipe is a series of sequential steps.
- sequential numbering
- The invoices use sequential numbering.
- sequential access
- A tape provides only sequential access.
- sequential process
- Building the house is a sequential process.
Synonyms and how they differ
- consecutive
- Consecutive means following one after another without a gap, while sequential stresses a fixed order that may include steps of different kinds.
- successive
- Successive emphasizes things coming one after another in time, often with the same type, whereas sequential focuses on order.
- serial
- Serial is used for items in a series, especially numbers and publications, and sounds more technical.
- ordered
- Ordered is a plain word for arranged in some order, but sequential stresses that the order matters.
Opposites
Word family
- sequence noun
- a set of things that follow in order
- sequentially adverb
- in a fixed order
- sequel noun
- a book or film that follows another
- consequence noun
- a result that follows an action
Commonly confused: sequential or consequential?
sequential vs consequential
Consequential means important or resulting from something, while sequential means in order.
Practice
The pages of the report were not in ___ order, so the story was hard to follow.
Choose one answer.
Sequential order means one item after another in the proper order. Consequential means significant, so it does not fit this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sequential”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.