successional

In ordered series

Successional describes something relating to or occurring in succession—a sequence where one thing follows another.

The word appears most often in ecology, where successional stages describe how plant and animal communities replace each other over time: The forest is in an early successional stage, dominated by fast-growing species.

It also applies to inheritance or transfer of power: successional rights to the throne.

sequential

consecutive

Following in unbroken sequence

following · series · order · phases · stages · linear · continuum · chain · sequence · progression

developmental

evolutionary

Pertaining to gradual biological change

unfolding · maturing · emerging · transitional · cumulative · progressive · growth · advancement · transformation · ripening

ecological

climax

Point of greatest intensity

disturbance · colonization · ecosystem · community · habitat · biodiversity · restoration · resilience · species · flora

inheritance

heir

One who receives legacy

throne · crown · regent · primogeniture · entailment · patrimony · estate · legacy · hereditary · accession

Opposites
temporal sequence

successionalsimultaneous

Happening at same time

concurrent · synchronous · contemporaneous · parallel · coexistent

continuity/progression

successionalrandom

Occurring without pattern

disordered · unordered · haphazard · discontinuous · chaotic

Phrases
Family

succession, successions

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G