Cascade: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used to describe a series of small waterfalls or situations where things happen in a sequence, similar to water falling step by step. It can also metaphorically refer to a series of events or actions in quick succession.

• The mountain had several beautiful cascades.
• A cascade of events followed the announcement.

Refers to a single, significant drop of water from a height, typically in a natural setting. It is often used when talking about natural scenery and is usually visually impressive or awe-inspiring.

• We hiked for hours to see the majestic waterfall.
• Niagara Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world.

Specifically denotes water that is flowing down in a series, often over rocks or other surfaces. It emphasizes the continuous and flowing nature of the water.

• We stood by the cliff, watching the cascading water.
• The sound of cascading water filled the valley.

When describing a series of events that happen quickly in a progressive manner, especially in a way that one event causes the next. Commonly used in technology, economics, and natural phenomena.

• The shutdown of the power plant caused a cascade of failures across the grid.
• Her comments triggered a cascade of responses on social media.

Used when referring to events or actions that happen in a specific order. Frequently employed in mathematics, programming, and storytelling, and does not necessarily imply any direct causality between events.

• The teacher asked the students to arrange the pictures in the correct sequence.
• In the sequence of the story, the hero finally confronts the villain.

Best used when referring to a series of events where each event is the result of the one preceding it, often in the context of scientific reactions, nuclear physics, or complex systems. This term may also carry a connotation of uncontrollability.

• A single mistake in the lab set off a chain reaction that resulted in the entire experiment failing.
• The economic collapse caused a chain reaction affecting industries worldwide.

Often used to describe a physical or metaphorical series of events or actions that happen quickly and continuously, one after another.

• The water cascaded down the rocks
• The bad economic news caused a cascade of selling on the stock market

Commonly used to describe the smooth, continuous movement of a liquid or, metaphorically, to describe a seamless progression of events or actions.

• The river flows gently to the sea
• The conversation flowed naturally, with everyone contributing

Used to describe events that occur one after another in a sequential manner. It emphasizes order and the concept that each event follows the previous one.

• The dominoes fell in succession, creating a mesmerizing chain reaction
• The team's victories seemed to fall in succession, each one building on the last