sequence

SaySEE-kwuhns/ˈsikwəns/UK · AUS/ˈsiːkwəns/

Pluralsequences

Verbsequences, sequencing, sequenced

12 meanings of sequence

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A group of things placed one after another in a fixed order.
Like beads on a string, each one coming after the last.
The numbers followed a simple sequence: two, four, six, eight.
She arranged the photos in the right sequence.
Similarorder, series, succession, progression, string
Note
2
noununcountable
The order in which one thing comes after another.
Like a line of people, where each person comes after the one in front.
We watched the events unfold in quick sequence.
The teacher explained the sequence of the seasons.
Similarorder, succession, progression, chronology
Note
3
verbtransitive
To put things in a particular order.
Like putting numbered cards back in order from one to ten.
Please sequence these steps from first to last.
The software sequences the tasks automatically.
Similararrange, order, organize
Oppositejumble, scramble
4
nouncountable or uncountable
A set of shots in a movie or show that together show one action or scene.
Like one complete scene in a movie made of many camera shots joined together.
The chase sequence lasted nearly ten minutes.
My favorite part was the opening sequence of the film.
Similarscene, segment
Note
5
nouncountable or uncountable
A list of numbers or things put in a fixed order, one after another.
Like steps on a staircase, numbered one, two, three as you go up.
In the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, each number goes up by two.
Can you find the next term in this sequence?
Note
6
verbtransitive
To find out the order of the building blocks in a molecule like DNA or a protein.
Like reading the letters in a long word to learn their exact order.
Scientists can now sequence a person's entire genome in a day.
The lab sequenced the virus to track new mutations.
Note
7
nouncountable or uncountable
A short musical idea that is repeated several times, each time a little higher or lower.
Like singing the same little tune again, each time a step higher.
The composer built the whole piece from one short sequence.
You can hear the same sequence climb higher each time it returns.
8
nouncountable or uncountable
A group of three or more cards of the same suit in a row.
Like steps on a ladder, where the cards climb in order.
She laid down a sequence of three spades to score.
A sequence beats two matching cards in this game.
Similarrun
Note
9
verbtransitive
To make music using a machine called a sequencer.
Like building a song step by step on a computer instead of playing it live.
She sequenced the whole track on her laptop.
Producers can sequence a beat in just a few minutes.
Similarprogram
Note
10
nouncountable or uncountable
A type of song sung during some Catholic Masses, between the readings.
Like a special song that has its own place in a church service.
The choir sang a sequence before the Gospel reading.
That ancient sequence is still sung at Easter.
Note

Less common meanings

11
verbrareintransitive
To move step by step through a series of things.
Like going through the steps of a recipe one by one.
The lights sequence from red to green automatically.
If indeed smokers sequence through more biologic therapies, these findings may bring about significant practice changes focused on smoking cessation earlier in the CD course.
2023, Madeline Alizadeh, Osman AliHere, sequence means move step by step through a series of treatments.
Similarcycle, progress, move, step
Note
12
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
Something that happens as a result of an earlier event.
Like getting wet because you stood out in the rain.
His ruin was the sequence of years of careless spending.
he found no words to convey the impressions he had received; then he gave way to the anger always the sequence of the antagonism of opinion between them.
1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" CountryHere, sequence means result, something that follows from an earlier event.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of sequence apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Latin words meaning "to follow," passing through Old French and Middle English.