continuum
noun
con·tin·u·um
kən-ˈtin-yü-əm 
plural continua
kən-ˈtin-yü-ə
also continuums
also continuums
1
: a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees
"good" and "bad" … stand at opposite ends of a continuum instead of describing the two halves of a line—
Wayne Shumaker
Wayne Shumaker2
: the set of real numbers including both the rationals and the irrationals
broadly
: a compact set which cannot be separated into two sets neither of which contains a limit point of the other
Examples of continuum in a Sentence
His motives for volunteering lie somewhere on the continuum between charitable and self-serving.
a continuum of temperatures ranging from very cold to very hot
Recent Examples on the Web
Long Beach, Glendale and Los Angeles each have their own continuum of care.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
McCloskey also was a champion of environmental issues who saw his work as a continuum of the conservation efforts of former President Teddy Roosevelt.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for continuum 
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
McCloskey also was a champion of environmental issues who saw his work as a continuum of the conservation efforts of former President Teddy Roosevelt.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for continuum
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'continuum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to continuum
Dictionary Entries Near continuum
Cite this Entry
“Continuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuum. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
continuum
noun
con·tin·u·um
kən-ˈtin-yə-wəm
plural continuua
-yə-wə
also continuums
: something that is continuous and the same throughout and that is often thought of as a series of elements or values which differ by only tiny amounts
"light" and "dark" stand at opposite ends of a continuum
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share