Phrase guide

first-class continuation

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfɜːst ˈklɑːs kəntɪnjʊˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
  • General-American: /ˈfɝst ˈklæs kənˌtɪnjuˈeɪʃən/
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

A continuation that can be used like any other value in a programming language, granting it a powerful ability to control the flow of execution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

Examples

  • Bruce F. Duba; David Macqueen (January 1991), “Typing First-Class Continuations in ML”, in Journal of Functional Programming, volume 3, number 4, →DOI: “First-class continuations are a simple and natural way to provide access to the flow of evaluation in functional languages.”

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: continuation

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.