outcome

American  

[out-kuhm] / ˈaʊtˌkʌm /

noun

outcomes plural

1. a final product or end result; consequence; issue.

2. a conclusion reached through a process of logical thinking.

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outcome British  

/ ˈaʊtˌkʌm /

noun

1. something that follows from an action, dispute, situation, etc; result; consequence

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Synonym Usage

See end ¹.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• outcomes
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outcome outcomes

Such an outcome could increase the cost of borrowing for AI and potentially reduce the investment that’s been supporting the economy.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Yet people exposed to the same risks do not always experience the same outcome.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

Robinhood first started offering Kalshi’s event-based contracts early last year, allowing users to place yes-or-no bets on everything from the outcome of sporting events to interest-rate moves at the Federal Reserve.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

For now, she’s receiving intensive treatment in the center’s urgent care unit, and her care team says it’s too soon to predict the outcome.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

When he faces Turnus in the last combat there is no interest in the outcome.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

The team examined fuel conditions before the fires and estimated the outcomes for roughly 26,400 giant sequoias in 19 groves affected by the Castle and KNP Complex wildfires.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

In doing so, they offer a contrasting view to consultant-centered narratives, suggesting that while strategists matter, electoral outcomes and political careers are often attributed in public record to broader forces and to the officeholders themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Customers are choosing SAP to enable accurate and compliant AI outcomes grounded in their most critical business processes and data,” CEO Christian Klein said in a statement.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The trial for patients with cardiovascular disease also showed other exciting outcomes, Skovronsky said, including reductions in triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

You see movies and TV shows where people receive horrible news in hospitals, but for us, with all our many trips to the hospital with August, there had always been good outcomes.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

Related Words

• conclusion
• event
• fallout
• issue
• reaction
• result