case

[ keys ]

/ keɪs /

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See synonyms for: case / cases / casing on Thesaurus.com

noun

an instance of the occurrence, existence, etc., of something: Sailing in such a storm was a case of poor judgment.

the actual state of things: That is not the case.

a question or problem of moral conduct; matter: a case of conscience.

situation; circumstance; plight: Mine is a sad case.

a person or thing whose plight or situation calls for attention: This family is a hardship case.

a specific occurrence or matter requiring discussion, decision, or investigation, as by officials or law-enforcement authorities: The police studied the case of the missing jewels.

a stated argument used to support a viewpoint: He presented a strong case against the proposed law.

an instance of disease, injury, etc., requiring medical or surgical attention or treatment; individual affliction: She had a severe case of chicken pox.

a medical or surgical patient.

Law.

a suit or action at law; cause.
a set of facts giving rise to a legal claim, or to a defense to a legal claim.

Grammar.

a category in the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, noting the syntactic relation of these words to other words in the sentence, indicated by the form or the position of the words.
a set of such categories in a particular language.
the meaning of or the meaning typical of such a category.
such categories or their meanings collectively.

Informal. a peculiar or unusual person: He's a case.

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Idioms about case

get / be on someone's case, Slang. to bother or nag someone; meddle in someone's affairs: Her brother is always on her case about getting married. Why do you keep getting on my case?

get off someone's case, Slang. to stop bothering or criticizing someone or interfering in someone's affairs: I've had enough of your advice, so just get off my case.

have a case on, Slang. to be infatuated with: He had a case on the girl next door.

in any case, regardless of circumstances; be that as it may; anyhow: In any case, there won't be any necessity for you to come along.

in case, if it should happen that; if: In case I am late, don't wait to start dinner.

in case of, in the event of; if there should be: In case of an error in judgment, the group leader will be held responsible.

in no case, under no condition; never: He should in no case be allowed to get up until he has completely recovered from his illness.

Origin of case

First recorded before 1150; Middle English ca(a)s, from Anglo-French, Old French cas, from Latin cāsus “fall, accident, event, grammatical case” (translation of Greek ptôsis ), equivalent to cad(ere) “to fall” + -tus suffix of verb action; compare Old English cāsus “grammatical case”

synonym study for case

1. Case, instance, example, illustration suggest the existence or occurrence of a particular thing representative of its type. Case and instance are closely allied in meaning, as are example and illustration. Case is a general word, meaning a fact, occurrence, or situation typical of a class: a case of assault and battery. An instance is a concrete factual case which is adduced to explain a general idea: an instance of a brawl in which an assault occurred. An example is one typical case, usually from many similar ones, used to make clear or explain the working of a principle (what may be expected of any others of the group): This boy is an example of the effect of strict discipline. An illustration exemplifies a theory or principle similarly, except that the choice may be purely hypothetical: The work of Seeing Eye dogs is an illustration of what is thought to be intelligence in animals.

OTHER WORDS FROM case

caseless, adjectivecase·less·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH case

encase, in case

Words nearby case

cascading style sheet, cascara, cascara sagrada, cascarilla, Casco Bay, case, casease, caseate, caseation, case bay, casebook

Other definitions for case (2 of 2)

case²

[ keys ]

/ keɪs /

noun

an often small or portable container for enclosing something, as for carrying or safekeeping; receptacle: a jewel case.

a sheath or outer covering: a knife case.

a box with its contents: a case of ginger ale.

the amount contained in a box or other container: There are a dozen bottles to a case.

a pair or couple; brace: a case of pistols.

a surrounding frame or framework, as of a door.

Bookbinding. a completed book cover ready to be fitted to form the binding of a book.

Printing. a tray of wood, metal, or plastic, divided into compartments for holding types for the use of a compositor and usually arranged in a set of two, the upper (upper case ) for capital letters and often auxiliary types, the lower (lower case ) for small letters and often auxiliary types, now generally replaced by the California job case. Compare news case.

a cavity in the skull of a sperm whale, containing an oil from which spermaceti is obtained.

Also called case card. Cards. the last card of a suit or denomination that remains after the other cards have been played: a case heart; the case jack.

Faro. casebox.

Southeastern U.S. (chiefly South Carolina). a coin of a particular denomination, as opposed to the same amount in change: a case quarter.

Metallurgy. the hard outer part of a piece of casehardened steel.

verb (used with object), cased, cas·ing.

to put or enclose in a case; cover with a case.

Slang. to examine or survey (a house, bank, etc.) in planning a crime (sometimes followed by out): They cased the joint and decided to pull the job on Sunday.

to fuse a layer of glass onto (glass of a contrasting color or of different properties).

to cover (a surface of a wall, well, shaft, etc.) with a facing or lining; revet.

Bookbinding. to bind (a book) in a case.

Cards Slang.

to arrange (cards or a pack of cards) in a dishonest manner.
to remember the quantity, suit, or denomination of (the cards played).

Origin of case

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cas, from Anglo-French cas(s)e, Old French chasse, from Latin capsa “cylindrical case for holding books in scroll form, receptacle”

OTHER WORDS FROM case

caser, nounwell-cased, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT CASE

What is a basic definition of case?

A case is an instance or example of something, a container for storing something, or a matter that is being investigated by law enforcement or official agents. Case has many other senses as a noun and a verb.

A case is something you can point to as an example of something. This sense of case is often used in reference to illness, such as a patient having a bad case of malaria.

Real-life examples: If you go out in a thunderstorm with an umbrella and a raincoat, that would be a case of good judgement. The stone Sphinx in Egypt is a case of the amazing building powers of the ancient Egyptians.

Used in a sentence: I had a minor case of food poisoning yesterday.

A case is also a box or container that is used to keep something safe. It is usually small and is often designed specifically for a particular item. Sometimes, another term is used with case to describe exactly what is supposed to be stored in the case, as in knife case.

Real-life examples: Guitars are often stored in guitar cases. Many people keep their eyeglasses in a glasses case. Smokers might have a cigarette case.

Used in a sentence: He tried to break into the jewelry case.

Lastly, a case is a matter or investigation that law enforcement or other officials are pursuing or working on. Detectives and other investigators are likely to be assigned or take on cases that they must research and try to find details about.

Real-life examples: Police detectives often get assigned murder cases, burglary cases, kidnapping cases, and many other cases that require investigation. The famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes pursued many interesting cases that required his amazing deductive skills.

Used in a sentence: The detective gathered clues while investigating the arson case.

Where does case come from?

The first records of case come from before the 1150s. The sense of case meaning “an instance” ultimately comes from the Latin cāsus, meaning “a befalling” or “an occurrence.” The sense of case meaning “a container” ultimately comes from the Latin capsa, meaning “a receptacle for books.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to case?

caseless (adjective)
caselessly (adverb)
caser (noun)
well-cased (adjective)

What are some synonyms for case?

What are some words that share a root or word element with case?

What are some words that often get used in discussing case?

How is case used in real life?

Case is a very common word that most often means an example or an instance.

A case of poor labelling has sparked another interstate wine battle between California and Oregon.

— Wine Searcher (@WineSearcher) March 1, 2019

Delhi: ANI journalist Joy Pillai was robbed by three men at gunpoint in Laxmi Nagar area when he was returning from work last night. "A case of robbery has been registered at Shakarpur Police Station," say Delhi Police.

— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2020

When I see someone using an iPhone with no phone case, I become immediately stressed. Talk about living life on the edge!

— Jaclyn Hill (@Jaclynhill) June 25, 2018

Try using case!

Is case used correctly in the following sentence?

He forgot his keys at home in another case of bad memory.

How to use case in a sentence

In some cases, it’s people that didn’t even know they were sick.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
The case stemmed from challenges to the state’s orders to close “non life-sustaining” businesses and to limit gatherings to 25 people indoors or 250 people outdoors.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on|Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Redfield said he expected a vaccine to start being available in November or December, with the first people to receive it being those with health problems that make them most vulnerable to a severe case or death if they are infected.
Biden questions whether a vaccine approved by Trump would be safe|Sean Sullivan|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
In the past, when I’ve discussed a case, unfortunately, that individual’s name was leaked to the media.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

In each case, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads — by a wide margin in Minnesota and a narrow one in Wisconsin.
The key shifts in Minnesota and Wisconsin that have improved Biden’s chances of victory|Philip Bump|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Certain features of its history suggest why this may be the case.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
And, in the case of fluoride, at least, that doubt might actually be justified.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Her latest book, Heretic: The Case for a Muslim Reformation, will be published in April by HarperCollins.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Their friendship began when Krauss, who was chairman of the physics department at Case Western in Cleveland, sought out Epstein.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A grand juror in the Ferguson case is suing to be able to explain exactly what went down in the courtroom.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The case was an assault and battery that came off between two men named Brown and Henderson.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
In this case, I suspect, there was co-operant a strongly marked childish characteristic, the love of producing an effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Sometimes in the case of large plants, cones have been known to occur on the tips of the branches of the Marsh Horsetail.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
As a rule, however, even in the case of extreme varieties, a careful examination of the specimen will enable it to be identified.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
Thus was the man left entirely to the devil, not even his life being reserved, as in the case of Job.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway

British Dictionary definitions for case (1 of 2)

case¹

/ (keɪs) /

noun

a single instance, occurrence, or example of something

an instance of disease, injury, hardship, etc

a question or matter for discussionthe case before the committee

a specific condition or state of affairs; situation

a set of arguments supporting a particular action, cause, etc

a person attended or served by a doctor, social worker, solicitor, etc; patient or client
(as modifier)a case study

an action or suit at law or something that forms sufficient grounds for bringing an actionhe has a good case
the evidence offered in court to support a claim

grammar

a set of grammatical categories of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, marked by inflection in some languages, indicating the relation of the noun, adjective, or pronoun to other words in the sentence
any one of these categoriesthe nominative case

informal a person in or regarded as being in a specified conditionthe accident victim was a hospital case; he's a mental case

informal a person of a specified character (esp in the phrase a hard case)

informal an odd person; eccentric

US informal love or infatuation

short for case shot See canister (def. 2b)

as the case may be according to the circumstances

in any case (adverb) no matter what; anyhowwe will go in any case

in case (adverb)

in order to allow for eventualities
(as conjunction) in order to allow for the possibility thattake your coat in case it rains
US if

in case of (preposition) in the event of

in no case (adverb) under no circumstancesin no case should you fight back

Word Origin for case

Old English casus (grammatical) case, associated also with Old French cas a happening; both from Latin cāsus, a befalling, occurrence, from cadere to fall

British Dictionary definitions for case (2 of 2)

case²

/ (keɪs) /

noun

a container, such as a box or chest
(in combination)suitcase; briefcase

an outer cover or sheath, esp for a watch

a receptacle and its contentsa case of ammunition

a pair or brace, esp of pistols

architect another word for casing (def. 3)

a completed cover ready to be fastened to a book to form its binding

printing a tray divided into many compartments in which a compositor keeps individual metal types of a particular size and style. Cases were originally used in pairs, one (the upper case) for capitals, the other (the lower case) for small lettersSee also upper case, lower case

metallurgy the surface of a piece of steel that has been case-hardened

verb (tr)

to put into or cover with a caseto case the machinery

slang to inspect carefully (esp a place to be robbed)

Word Origin for case

C13: from Old French casse, from Latin capsa, from capere to take, hold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for case

case

A grammatical category indicating whether nouns and pronouns are functioning as the subject of a sentence (nominative case) or the object of a sentence (objective case), or are indicating possession (possessive case). He is in the nominative case, him is in the objective case, and his is in the possessive case. In a language such as English, nouns do not change their form in the nominative or objective case. Only pronouns do. Thus, ball stays the same in both “the ball is thrown,” where it is the subject, and in “Harry threw the ball,” where it is the object.

Other Idioms and Phrases with case

case

In addition to the idiom beginning with case

case in point

also see:

basket case
get down to brass tacks (cases)
have a case on
in any case
in case of
in no case
in the case of
just in case
make a federal case
off someone's back (case)
open and shut case

case

Idioms about case

Origin of case

synonym study for case

OTHER WORDS FROM case

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH case

Words nearby case

Other definitions for case (2 of 2)

Origin of case

OTHER WORDS FROM case

MORE ABOUT CASE

What is a basic definition of case?

Where does case come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is case used in real life?

Try using case!

Words related to case

How to use case in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for case (1 of 2)

Word Origin for case

British Dictionary definitions for case (2 of 2)

Word Origin for case

Cultural definitions for case

Other Idioms and Phrases with case