subsequent

adjective

sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt How to pronounce subsequent (audio)
-sə-ˌkwent
: following in time, order, or place
subsequent events
a subsequent clause in the treaty
subsequent noun

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Subsequent vs. Consequent

The English language has many ways to indicate that something has come after another thing, but a number of these words have subtle differences that you may want to observe.

Something is subsequent if it follows something else in time, order, or place. Its meaning is very similar to that of following or later, but it has a more formal tone to it and may imply that something not only follows but in some way grows out of or is otherwise closely connected with what precedes it (“their courtship and subsequent marriage”).

Consequent may also be used of something that follows, but that does so explicitly as a result of something else (“I said an insensitive thing and the consequent argument lasted for days”).

There may be occasions when either subsequent or consequent would work ("her wounding and subsequent [or consequent] loss of blood"); your choice in such cases would depend upon whether you want to stress the order of events or the causal relationship between one event and another.

Examples of subsequent in a Sentence

Her subsequent account of her ordeal, "The Upstairs Room" (1972), was a young adult tour de force, winning a Newbery Honor and other awards. Compared with Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl," it is sparer and sterner. Leslie Garis, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009
In the past, collectors would often hand over partial ownership of a painting—usually from 10% to 20%—and take a tax deduction for an equivalent percentage of the appraised value. The write-off on subsequent donations could rise each time the painting's value grew. Donors got a tax break, and museums got the art to exhibit for a period of time each year. Many such paintings were ultimately bequeathed to the museums. Jeanne McDowell, Time, 20 Nov. 2006
In 1991, the Nurses' Health Study found that women receiving hormone therapy (estrogen and progestin) enjoyed a big (44 percent) reduction in the risk of coronary artery disease, and millions of women were encouraged to begin the therapy to counteract the effects of menopause. But in 2002, the Women's Health Initiative produced a radically different conclusion: Hormone therapy increases the risk of coronary events in post-menopausal women by 20 percent. A subsequent study confirmed that result. Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
The rate of population growth reached a peak in 1999 and declined in subsequent years. Her work had a great influence on subsequent generations. Subsequent studies confirmed their findings. his arrest and subsequent conviction
Recent Examples on the Web The show will premiere with two half-hour episodes, with back-to-back episodes will also air in subsequent weeks. Jack Dunn, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 In the late 1990s, advice generally running around was that exercising too late in the evening would disrupt subsequent sleep. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 In subsequent years, there have been cases reported around the world, including clusters of at least 60 incidents in Bogota, Colombia, and Vienna, Austria. Katie Bo Lillis, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Each episode follows a loose Law & Order template, chronicling the crime and subsequent investigation — lasting anywhere from 10 days to 21 years — before shifting to the prosecution of the accused. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 The deadly crash and subsequent arrest became the focus of a rift among D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), judges in Superior Court and youth officials in the city. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Many members have already looked skeptically at the proliferation of pro-Palestinian messages on the app in the wake of the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas, and the subsequent Israeli response that has killed tens of thousands of Gaza residents. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 15 Mar. 2024 Related Articles After 25 years of ‘Barbara Lee Speaks for Me,’ Oakland looks back on congresswoman’s legacy Voters, meanwhile, would be able to choose their actual favorite from a wide field — along with their second and subsequent choices — without any fear of playing spoiler. David Daley, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The subsequent screaming and yelling (why, oh why, do any of us go online?) left one unusual contour to this story overlooked. Jordan Hoffman, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subsequent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin subsequent-, subsequens, present participle of subsequi to follow close, from sub- near + sequi to follow — more at sub-, sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsequent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near subsequent

Cite this Entry

“Subsequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsequent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subsequent

adjective
sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt How to pronounce subsequent (audio)
-sə-ˌkwent
: following in time, order, or place
subsequent events
subsequent noun
subsequently
-ˌkwent-lē How to pronounce subsequent (audio)
-kwənt-
adverb

Legal Definition

subsequent

adjective
sub·​se·​quent ˈsəb-si-kwənt, -ˌkwent How to pronounce subsequent (audio)
: following in time, order, or space see also condition subsequent at condition compare precedent

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