Chronological: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：in order of time (chronological)

chronological 🔊

/ˌkrɑːnəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/

adj.

Putting things in order from what happened first to what happened last, like a story or a timeline.

Chronological timeline illustration showing life stages in order

in order of time 🔊

➕

/ɪn ˈɔːrdər əv taɪm/

adj.

Arranged according to the sequence in which events occurred, from earliest to latest.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'chronos' (time) + 'logos' (study, word). Relates to time ordering.

💡 Mnemonic

Chronos, the Greek god of time, helps you remember: chronological = time order.

📖 Example

The museum exhibition was arranged in chronological order, so you could start from the earliest events and work your way up to the most recent ones. 🔊 The museum exhibition was arranged in chronological order, so you could start from the earliest events and work your way up to the most recent ones.

🔗 Collocations

chronological order – Arrangement by time of occurrence

chronological age – Age measured by years elapsed since birth

chronological sequence – Sequence based on time order

🔄 Synonyms

sequential (adj.) – Following a logical order or time sequence

temporal (adj.) – Relating to time

time-ordered (adj.) – Arranged according to time

🚫 Antonyms

random (adj.) – Lacking any definite order or plan

unordered (adj.) – Not arranged in a specific sequence

non-chronological (adj.) – Not following chronological order

🌱 Derivatives

chronologically (adv.) – In a chronological manner

chronology (n.) – The arrangement of events in time

chronologist (n.) – A person who studies chronology

📖 Cultural Story

The word combines Greek 'chronos' (time) and 'logical' (science). Used in historiography to arrange events sequentially. No fictional story.