succession

succession — noun

1. a group of similar events, individuals, or items that come one after another acr

1.名詞B2
釋義

a group of similar events, individuals, or items that come one after another across some period of time

例句

A succession of visitors knocked at the door throughout the morning.

a succession of [plural noun] for a series of events

Quinn read a succession of cookbooks while learning to bake bread.

同義詞
  • series

    broader — can be consecutive or non-consecutive; 'succession' always implies consecutive timing

  • sequence

    emphasizes logical or numerical order rather than mere timing

  • chain

    suggests each item is linked to the next, often in a cause-and-effect way

文法句型

a succession of [plural noun]

[number/quantity] + in succession

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' plus a plural noun describing the items in the series. Unlike 'series', 'succession' strongly implies consecutive timing — the items follow one another without a meaningful gap.

常見錯誤

❌There was a succession teacher came and went.
✅There was a succession of teachers who came and went.
💡'a succession of' must be followed by a noun phrase, not a clause.
❌We ate a succession meal.
✅We ate a succession of meals.
💡The word 'of' is required after 'succession' when listing the items.

2. used in the phrase 'in succession' to describe events that happen one right afte

2.名詞B1
釋義

used in the phrase 'in succession' to describe events that happen one right after another without any interruption

例句

Jin won the national tennis tournament three years in succession.

[number] + [time period] + in succession

The factory produced faulty parts for a second day in succession.

同義詞
  • consecutively

    more formal; used in the same adverbial position (e.g. 'three days consecutively')

  • back-to-back

    informal and common in sports and business contexts

反義詞

文法句型

[number] + [noun] + in succession

[number] + in succession

用法筆記

Used only with a preceding number or quantity (e.g. 'three days in succession', 'second time in succession'). Cannot stand alone: ❌ 'The events happened in succession' without a number is non-standard in modern English — use 'one after another' instead.

常見錯誤

❌They won in succession.
✅They won three times in succession.
💡A number or quantity is needed before the phrase.
❌The meetings happened in successive.
✅The meetings happened in succession.
💡'Succession' is the noun form; 'successive' is an adjective.

3. the process by which a person assumes a formal role, title, or office after the

3.名詞B2
釋義

the process by which a person assumes a formal role, title, or office after the previous holder leaves or dies, particularly in royal families or political systems

例句

The queen's eldest son is first in the line of succession to the throne.

line of succession to the throne — royal inheritance

A bitter dispute over the succession led to a long civil war in the kingdom.

同義詞
  • accession

    more specific — refers to the moment of taking the throne or office, not the overall process

  • inheritance

    broader — includes property and money, not just titles or positions

反義詞
  • abdication

    the act of voluntarily giving up a throne or position

文法句型

succession to [title/throne/position]

line of succession

right of succession

用法筆記

Most commonly used in legal and political contexts involving monarchy, nobility, or high office. Frequently appears in the fixed expressions 'line of succession', 'right of succession', and 'order of succession'. The verb pattern is 'succeed to the throne/position'.

常見錯誤

❌His succession as king was welcomed.
✅His succession to the throne was welcomed.
💡Use 'to' (not 'as') when referring to a title or position.
❌Who is in line for succession?
✅Who is in the line of succession?
💡The article 'the' and the word 'line' form part of the fixed expression.

4. the fixed pattern in which one event, step, or stage naturally follows another i

4.名詞B2
釋義

the fixed pattern in which one event, step, or stage naturally follows another in a recognizable order

例句

The succession of seasons follows a predictable rhythm every year.

the succession of [plural noun] — natural pattern

In traditional dance routines, the succession of movements must be performed in the correct order.

同義詞
  • sequence

    more common in everyday use for planned or logical order

  • order

    simpler and more general; 'succession' sounds more formal

反義詞
  • disorder

    lack of any predictable pattern or order

文法句型

the succession of [plural noun]

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with sense 1 but emphasizes the expected or natural order of the sequence rather than the mere fact that items follow each other. Common with natural cycles, procedures, and logical progressions.

常見錯誤

❌The succession of the ceremony was confusing.
✅The order of the ceremony was confusing.
💡For a single planned event, use 'order' or 'sequence' rather than 'succession'.

5. in ecology, the natural process by which one group of plants and animals living

5.名詞C1
釋義

in ecology, the natural process by which one group of plants and animals living in an area is gradually replaced by another group until a stable balance is reached

例句

Ecological succession transformed the bare volcanic rock into a dense forest over several centuries.

ecological succession — technical term for ecosystem change

Diya studied the succession of plant species in the abandoned farmland for her biology project.

succession of [species] in a specific location

文法句型

ecological succession

succession of [species/community]

用法筆記

A technical term in ecology and environmental science. Two main types exist: primary succession (on new land with no soil, like bare rock) and secondary succession (on land that previously supported life but was disturbed, like after a fire or flood). Not used outside scientific contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The succession of forests was quick.
✅The ecological succession of the forest took many years.
💡In scientific writing, use the full term 'ecological succession' to avoid confusion with other meanings.