cause — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • often
   • with-of

   Synonyms

   basisgenesis

   Antonyms

   effectresult

   Examples

   They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.

   We thanke you both, yet one but flatters vs, As well appeareth by the cauſe you come, Namely, to appeale each other of high treaſon.

   More examples (1)

   He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.

2. Sufficient reason.

   Usage

   • especially
   • Uncountable
   • with for and a bare noun

   Synonyms

   groundsjustificationoccasion

   Examples

   There is no cause for alarm.

   The end of the war was a cause for celebration.

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   He has no cause to do that.

3. A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   objectivepurpose

   Examples

   God befriend us, as our cause is just.

   The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.

   More examples (3)

   I'm not fighting for anything anymore, except myself. I'm the only cause I'm interested in.

   There is much to regret about America's failure in Vietnam. The reasons are etched in black marble on the Washington Mall. But we had believed the cause that America had asked us to serve in Vietnam was a worthy one, and millions who defended it had done so honorably.

   "I thought you were loyal to the cause, Paul." “I was,” Grayson answered. “Then I saw the kind of people who share your vision, and I had a change of heart.”

4. Sake; interest; advantage.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   I did it not for his cause.

5. Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

6. A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   litigation

Verb

1. To set off an event or action; to bring about; to produce.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The lightning caused thunder.

   More examples (2)

   Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.

   An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic[…]real kidneys[…]. But they are nothing like as efficient, and can cause bleeding, clotting and infection—not to mention inconvenience for patients, who typically need to be hooked up to one three times a week for hours at a time.

2. To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.

   Usage

   • Ditransitive

   Examples

   His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.

   I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.

   More examples (1)

   And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them. Soft heartedness caused more harm than good.

3. To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   He, to shifte their curious request, / Gan causen why she could not come in place.

Noun

1. events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

   Broader terms

   originoriginationinception

   Examples

   they are trying to determine the cause of the crash

2. a justification for something existing or happening

   Synonyms

   reasongrounds

   Broader terms

   justification

   Examples

   he had no cause to complain

   they had good reason to rejoice

3. a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

   Synonyms

   campaigncrusadedrivemovementeffort

   Broader terms

   venture

   Examples

   he supported populist campaigns

   they worked in the cause of world peace

   More examples (3)

   the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant

   the movement to end slavery

   contributed to the war effort

4. any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results

   Synonyms

   causal agentcausal agency

   Broader terms

   physical entity

5. a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy

   Synonyms

   lawsuitsuitcasecausa

   Broader terms

   proceedinglegal proceedingproceedings

   Examples

   the family brought suit against the landlord

Verb

1. give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

   Synonyms

   domake

   Broader terms

   makecreate

   Examples

   cause a commotion

   make a stir

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   cause an accident

2. cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

   Synonyms

   inducestimulatehavegetmake

   Broader terms

   actmove

   Examples

   The ads induced me to buy a VCR

   My children finally got me to buy a computer

   More examples (1)

   My wife made me buy a new sofa