consequence
Americannoun
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the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.
The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
- Antonyms:
- cause
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an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
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the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
-
importance or significance.
a matter of no consequence.
-
importance in rank or position; distinction.
a man of great consequence in art.
idioms
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in consequence of, as a result of; on account of.
A trial was held in consequence of the investigation.
-
in consequence, consequently; as a result; hence.
He withdrew from the world, and in consequence was forgotten.
noun
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a result or effect of some previous occurrence
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an unpleasant result (esp in the phrase take the consequences )
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significance or importance
it's of no consequence
a man of consequence
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logic
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a conclusion reached by reasoning
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the conclusion of an argument
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the relations between the conclusion and the premises of a valid argument
-
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the relation between an effect and its cause
-
as a result
Related Words
See effect. See importance.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of consequence
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin consequentia. See consequent, -ence
Explanation
Things in a sequence come one after another, as in a number sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4. A consequence comes after, or as a result of something you do, for example, "He was given a traffic ticket as a consequence of running the red light." A consequence is a "result" or "conclusion," and the Latin sequī, "to follow," is part of its history. Most actions and acts of nature have a consequence that follows as a result. When people do something wrong, like rob a bank, the consequence will probably be prison time. If an organization works for good and finds a cure for cancer, on the other hand, people will get better as a consequence. When something occurs in nature, like a tornado touching down, destruction might be the consequence.
Vocabulary lists containing consequence
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This collapse of commerce is a consequence of Iran’s ability to harass civilian tankers so much that shipping companies no longer view the journey as worth the cost.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
Reviews published afterward have also described mitochondrial failure as an early and potentially central feature of Alzheimer's biology, not merely a late consequence of brain damage.
From Science Daily • May 16, 2026
"Our lakes, rivers and groundwater reserves have dried up as a direct consequence of poor water management," said Kesici.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
“However, we are drawing down those stocks pretty quickly, and as a result, prices will have to rise as a direct consequence of that.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
In consequence you get to know your fellow hikers at least a little, quite well if you meet them nightly at the shelters.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
