outcome
Americannoun
-
a final product or end result; consequence; issue.
-
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:
Greggs said its expectations for the full year outcome were unchanged - 2026 underlying pre-tax profit at a similar level to 2025's £172m.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
“We cannot rule out that such outcome could occur in the near term,” the company said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
And then she squeals into the phone and tells me about some weird outcome of a reality show about hoarders.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
I think it’s going to take dramatic changes to actually prevent those outcomes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“In addition, such outcomes could weaken Delaware Life’s regulatory relationships and damage its reputation, which could erode its competitive position,” S&P said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
We can’t rewrite the family circumstances students were born into, but we can be honest about how family shapes student outcomes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Jeremiah had never shown much interest in the outcomes of the older boys’ games, so Luma rightly deduced that Mandela was putting his younger brother up to the calls.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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.
