series
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words describe a group of items or events placed one after another. A 'series' is the most general term — it simply means a connected group in order, with no implication about interruption or cause: 'a series of workshops'. A 'sequence' emphasises the specific order, often with a logical or numerical pattern: 'the sequence of steps in a recipe'. A 'chain' stresses that each link connects to the next, often with a cause-effect relationship: 'a chain of events that led to the accident'. A 'succession' is more formal and implies items following one another without a gap: 'a succession of sunny days'. A 'string' is informal and suggests many items in a row, often unexpectedly: 'a string of bad luck'. For everyday situations where things simply happen one after another, 'series' is the safest and most natural choice.
Common collocations
Phrases
- a series of
Prepositions
- in series
- series of
Etymology
The word 'series' comes directly from Latin 'series', meaning 'a row, chain, sequence, succession'. It is related to the verb 'serere', meaning 'to join, link, or bind together'. The word entered English in the early 1600s and has kept both its spelling and its core meaning of connected items over time. The electrical sense appeared in the mid-1700s, the broadcasting sense in the 1920s, and the mathematical sense was already established by the 1700s.