consequence
Americannoun
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consequences
plural
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the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.
The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
- Antonyms:
- cause
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an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
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the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
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importance or significance.
a matter of no consequence.
-
importance in rank or position; distinction.
a man of great consequence in art.
idioms
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in consequence of, as a result of; on account of.
A trial was held in consequence of the investigation.
-
in consequence, consequently; as a result; hence.
He withdrew from the world, and in consequence was forgotten.
noun
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a result or effect of some previous occurrence
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an unpleasant result (esp in the phrase take the consequences )
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significance or importance
it's of no consequence
a man of consequence
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logic
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a conclusion reached by reasoning
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the conclusion of an argument
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the relations between the conclusion and the premises of a valid argument
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the relation between an effect and its cause
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as a result
Synonym Usage
See effect. See importance.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of consequence
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin consequentia. See consequent, -ence
Explanation
Things in a sequence come one after another, as in a number sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4. A consequence comes after, or as a result of something you do, for example, "He was given a traffic ticket as a consequence of running the red light." A consequence is a "result" or "conclusion," and the Latin sequī, "to follow," is part of its history. Most actions and acts of nature have a consequence that follows as a result. When people do something wrong, like rob a bank, the consequence will probably be prison time. If an organization works for good and finds a cure for cancer, on the other hand, people will get better as a consequence. When something occurs in nature, like a tornado touching down, destruction might be the consequence.
Vocabulary lists containing consequence
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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:
Microsoft’s segment reporting has the greatest consequence for investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Their previous work uncovered another important consequence of the black hole's tidal forces.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
They lost to Garfield in the Open Division quarterfinals last season, playing every game on the road as a consequence of the Palisades fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
"That's their strategy - and I think it's a good strategy, it's exciting. But the consequence is that every little bit of information, every little event, gets sort of blown out of proportion."
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
He was folding up his napkin, pushing back his plate, and I wondered how it was he spoke so casually, as though the matter was of little consequence, a mere adjustment of plans.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
No single personality type or demographic was immune to the experience of a deep enmeshment with one’s audience, and to its profound consequences for their creativity and well-being.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Unauthorized distributions can disqualify a plan, causing severe financial consequences, including immediate income taxes and any applicable penalties for employees on their vested balances.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
That has consequences for the economy—because those products aren’t produced in the U.S., they are factored out of gross domestic product.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Besides the painful consequences for deceived buyers, code enforcement has the limitation of due process, Bostwick said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Nathan knew the consequences of prolonged radiation poisoning.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
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.
