If you’re a fan of science fiction, you may have heard of the time-space continuum.
It means that the past, present and future are all present at once. This concept also applies to other areas of life, like the continuum of care.
Continuum (kon-TIN-yoo-um) is a range or series that gradually changes, in which no part is distinct from the next but has distinctly defined extremes. It’s a similar idea to the seasons, which are always present, but change slowly.
For example, parenting styles fall on a continuum from strict to child centered. Another example is the scale of punishment for crime. Caste and class systems are opposite points on a continuum, but both restrict interaction among people considered unequal.
We’ve programmatically gathered these examples from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘continuum.’ Any opinions in these examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.