cause
Forms
- Plural
- causes
- present (v1)
- cause
- past (v2)
- caused
- past participle (v3)
- caused
- present participle
- causing
- 3rd person singular
- causes
Definitions
1.The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
- They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
2.Sufficient reason.
- The end of the war was a cause for celebration.
- He has no cause to do that.
- There is no cause for alarm.
3.A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
- God befriend us, as our cause is just.
- The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.
- I'm not fighting for anything anymore, except myself. I'm the only cause I'm interested in.
4.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.
- How much damage did the storm cause?
- I don't believe that black cats cause bad luck.
1.To set off an event or action; to bring about; to produce.
2.To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
- I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
- His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
1.Alternative form of 'cause; because
- Why not? Cause I don't wanna.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #563
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
* From Middle English cause (also with the sense of “a thing”), borrowed from Old French cause (“a cause, a thing”), borrowed from Latin causa (“reason, sake, cause”), from Proto-Italic *kaussā, which is of unknown origin. Doublet of chose (“(law) a thing; personal property”). See accuse, excuse, recuse, ruse. Displaced native Old English intinga.