outcome
Americannoun
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outcomes
plural
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a final product or end result; consequence; issue.
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a conclusion reached through a process of logical thinking.
noun
Synonym Usage
See end 1.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outcome
First recorded in 1175–1225, outcome is from the Middle English word utcume. See out-, come
Explanation
The result of something, or the consequence of it, is the outcome. If your oldest child announces that your youngest child has climbed onto the roof with a handmade set of wings, you should probably not expect a good outcome. Better run! The noun outcome refers to the result of a process, but recently, when joined with the word "based", it has become jargon within a variety of industries and you'll see uses like outcome-based medicine and outcome-based budgeting. Outcome-based education, for example, rewards schools and teachers whose students meet certain goals on standardized tests, although critics argue this robs teachers and students of creativity.
Vocabulary lists containing outcome
List 10
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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Chapter 18: The Reconstruction Era
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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.
See Examples For:
The outcome was essentially the same with both materials.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
In some ways, this is the natural outcome of baseball’s postseason expansion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
NPR described the outcome as a striking rejection of the FDA’s stance, pointing out that every one of these compounds lacks the large, well-controlled clinical trials required to prove safety and effectiveness in humans.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was a tough week for predictions, with only two games where everyone picked the right outcome - that victory for the Gunners, and Brighton's win at Coventry.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
She tried to mask the downward spiral of the conversation with a sympathetic smile, but we both knew what the ultimate outcome could end up being.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
I am confident we will see strong outcomes from our approach at UChicago as long as we remain true to our core principles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Christian singled out a detailed five-tier system that would set how many degrees a community college district can offer based on how its student outcomes compare with every other district in the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
That is just one example; the strategy has varying structures and rules that set the path of potential outcomes.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Until now, researchers had not fully understood why the outcomes could be so different.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
One must learn to manage one’s emotional state in order to consistently operate from a place of resourcefulness, thus producing desirable outcomes.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
