sequel

American  

[see-kwuhl] / ˈsi kwəl /

noun

1. a literary work, movie, etc., that is complete in itself but continues the narrative of a preceding work.

2. an event or circumstance following something; subsequent course of affairs.

3. a result, consequence, or inference.

   Synonyms:

   end, outgrowth, upshot, aftermath

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sequel British  

/ ˈsiːkwəl /

noun

1. anything that follows from something else; development

2. a consequence or result

3. a novel, play, etc, that continues a previously related story

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sequel Cultural  

1. A narrative or dramatic work complete in itself but designed to follow an earlier one. Through the Looking-Glass is a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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Etymology

Origin of sequel

1375–1425; late Middle English sequel ( e ) < Latin sequēla what follows, equivalent to sequ ( ī ) to follow + -ēla noun suffix

Explanation

A sequel is a continuation or part two. The Empire Strikes Back and Toy Story 2 are sequels. Many successful movies have sequels. The most common meaning of sequel is for a book or movie that follows another, but the term can be used for just about anything that comes second. We might say of an actress who begins her career with a bang, "What will she do for a sequel?" A football team that wins a championship may have trouble with the sequel — trying to win another one next year. All sequels have a tough challenge — living up to the original.

Example Sentences

In 1984, Mario Puzo published "The Sicilian", which is not a sequel to "The Godfather," but a standalone narrative about the Sicilian hero Salvatore Giuliano.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

It’s been 19 years since “Rush Hour 3” hit the silver screen in 2007, but Ratner and its producers have reportedly been shopping around a sequel ever since.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Disney’s entertainment segment also had a stronger quarter at the theatrical box office, with standout performances from 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the animated sequel “Zootopia 2” and Pixar’s “Hoppers.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Audiences aren’t coming to this film solely because it’s a legacy sequel.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

I had thought he would hardly speak to me, and I was certain he had given up the pursuit of his matrimonial scheme: the sequel showed I was mistaken on both points.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• conclusion
• ending
• sequence
• series