se·quence
ˈsē-kwən(t)s 
-ˌkwen(t)s
1
: a hymn in irregular meter between the gradual and Gospel in masses for special occasions (such as Easter)
2
: a continuous or connected series: such as
a
: an extended series of poems united by a single theme
a sonnet sequence
b
: three or more playing cards usually of the same suit in consecutive order of rank
c
: a succession of repetitions of a melodic phrase or harmonic pattern each in a new position
d
: a set of elements ordered so that they can be labeled with the positive integers
e
: the exact order of bases in a nucleic acid or of amino acids in a protein
f(1)
: a succession of related shots or scenes developing a single subject or phase of a film story
(2)
: episode
3
a
: order of succession
b
: an arrangement of the tenses of successive verbs in a sentence designed to express a coherent relationship especially between main and subordinate parts
4
a
b
: a subsequent development
5
: continuity of progression
the narrative sequence
sequenced; sequencing
1
: to arrange in a sequence
2
: to determine the sequence of chemical constituents (such as amino-acid residues or nucleic-acid bases) in
Synonyms
Examples of sequence in a Sentence
Noun
He listened to the telephone messages in sequence.
a chase sequence in a spy movie
I enjoyed the movie's opening sequence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
The test, developed at the University of California, San Francisco, extracts the DNA and RNA from a sample of blood, tissue or body fluid, and then sequences the genetic material and compares the sequences to a vast database of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites to see what matches up.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Alison Snyder, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Pask had already sequenced the Tasmanian tiger’s genome with the help of DNA extracted from a 108-year old pouch young specimen that had been preserved at the Victoria Museum in Australia.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sequence 
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Noun
The household is barely making ends meet in the series’ opening sequence, and after Jean’s disappearance, the siblings are cruelly separated by the British bureaucratic state.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
The test, developed at the University of California, San Francisco, extracts the DNA and RNA from a sample of blood, tissue or body fluid, and then sequences the genetic material and compares the sequences to a vast database of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites to see what matches up.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
The big picture: This pandemic is exposing legal gaps for sharing virus samples and sequencing data that could hinder responses to international health emergencies, according to a new paper in the journal Science.
—Alison Snyder, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Pask had already sequenced the Tasmanian tiger’s genome with the help of DNA extracted from a 108-year old pouch young specimen that had been preserved at the Victoria Museum in Australia.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sequence
Dictionary Entries Near sequence
Cite this Entry
“Sequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sequence. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
sequence
1 of 2 noun
se·quence
ˈsē-kwən(t)s, -ˌkwen(t)s
1
: a continuous or connected series
specifically
: the exact order of bases in a nucleic acid or of amino acids in a protein
2
: a consequence, result, or subsequent development (as of a disease)
sequence
2 of 2 transitive verb
sequenced; sequencing
: to determine the sequence of chemical constituents (as amino acid residues in a protein or bases in a strand of DNA) in
sequenced the DNA of the entire genome of an organism
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