serial 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsir-ē-əl How to pronounce serial (audio)
Definition of serialnext
as in serialized
appearing in parts or numbers that follow regularly "Uncle Tom's Cabin" first appeared as a serial novel from 1851 to 1852

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

serial

2 of 2

noun

as in periodical
a publication that appears at regular intervals the university library has a vast collection of serials

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of serial
Adjective
Creatively speaking, Luiselli is a bit of a chameleon, one who could herself be mistaken for a serial reinventor. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 Season one of Resurrection ended with Dexter discovering a file on the New York Ripper in the vault of Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), a serial killer enthusiast and his primary season one adversary. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
Noun
Several companies have begun to supply bite-sized dramas and serials for venues like TikTok or Meta’s Reels. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 June 2026 This book got its start as part of the SCP Wiki, a collaborative writing space about fictional paranormal items and entities studied scientifically, and a lot of your previous works have been released as web serials. — Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for serial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serial
  1. serialized
  2. periodical
  3. newspaper
  4. journal
  5. book
  6. magazine
Adjective
  • There’s some wisdom in not having a rape threat hover over ten hours of serialized television, and the shift has opened up some thorny connections between Cady and Anna Bowden, whose pasts continue to intersect in intriguing ways.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • It’ll be built in limited numbers with serialized plaques on the dash, but the press release doesn’t mention how many the manufacturer will make.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 July 2026
Definition of serialized
Noun
  • It is anticipated that all IEEE periodicals will be included in the Integrity Hub screening by the end of this year.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
  • City law still requires newsstands to sell periodicals, but few bother for obvious reasons.
    — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 22 July 2026
Definition of periodical
Noun
  • Police set up a strike force to investigate Jones after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported in 2023 that Jones used his position of power, first as a schoolteacher and later as a popular broadcaster, to prey on a number of young men.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In 2022, terrorists kidnapped dozens of people from a train between Abuja and Kaduna, and Tukur Mamu, a newspaper publisher, negotiated their release.
    — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of newspaper
Noun
  • In the study, published July 31 in the Cell Press Blue journal, researchers reviewed more than 350 papers about protein in humans, mice and other organisms and found eating less protein could have greater health benefits.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The study was published in the journal Nature Water on July 30.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of journal
Noun
  • She's taught in Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education and authored the bestselling books Captivate and Cues in 18+ languages.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In the afternoon, book a spot at one of Copenhagen’s many hot tub experiences; some favorites include Hottub Copenhagen and CopenHot, the biggest outdoor spa in Denmark.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of book
Noun
  • All four of her grandparents were born and raised in Italy; in 2018, the then 62-year-old former magazine editor moved to Perugia, in the central Umbria region, on a temporary visa at the same time as filing a lawsuit for citizenship.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • When the Almaden Barnes & Noble closed last year after 26 years there was an emotional reaction from the community about a place to browse for books, magazines, puzzles and even grab a cup of coffee.
    — Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of magazine

Browse Nearby Words

sergeants
serial
serialize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Serial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serial. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on serial

Nglish: Translation of serial for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about serial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of colloquial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All