# chronological

/ˌkɹɑnəˈɫɑdʒɪkəɫ/ (US) · /kɹˌɒnəlˈɒdʒɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chronological
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. ordered by time

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

arranged in the order that things happened, starting with the oldest event.

For teachers: arranged in the order of occurrence from the earliest to the most recent.

- The history book lists the kings in chronological order.
- The detective arranged the witness statements in chronological order to identify exactly when the suspect had left the building.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun 'order' or 'sequence'.

Teaching tip: This is a high-frequency word in academic writing and history; students should learn it as part of the fixed phrase 'chronological order'.

### 2. relating to time

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

relating to time or how we measure it.

For teachers: pertaining to the measurement of time or the science of chronology.

- Your chronological age is how many years you have lived.
- The study compared the children's chronological age with their reading ability to see if they were ahead of their peers.

Usage: Often used in medical or psychological contexts to distinguish actual age from mental or biological age.

Teaching tip: In general English, sense 1 is much more common. This sense is mostly found in formal reports or scientific papers.

## Examples

- The book lists events in chronological order.
- The museum displays the artifacts in chronological order to show how technology changed over centuries.
- The historian reconstructed the timeline by arranging the fragmented letters in strict chronological order, revealing a clear pattern of political maneuvering.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.