consequencecon‧se‧quence /ˈkɒnsəkwəns $ ˈkɑːnsə-kwens/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun 
Many believe that poverty is a direct consequence of overpopulation.consequence for Our findings have far-reaching consequences for researchers.with ... consequences He ate some poisonous mushrooms, with fatal consequences.► see thesaurus at result2as a consequence (of something)/in consequence (of something) formal as a result of something: Animals have died as a consequence of coming into contact with this chemical. She was over the age limit and, in consequence, her application was rejected.3of little/no/any etc consequence formal not very important or valuableconsequence to Your opinion is of little consequence to me. I don’t suppose it is of any consequence now.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe a consequence of something· Low energy may be a consequence of sleeping badly.have consequences· Taking financial risks can have serious consequences.accept/take the consequences (=understand and deal with them)· I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my decision.face/suffer the consequences (=accept the bad results of something you have done)· He broke the law, and he will have to face the consequences.consequences follow (=happen)· Once the decision has been made, consequences follow.consider the consequences (=think what might happen as a result of something)· She jumped into the river without considering the consequences.escape the consequences (=avoid them)· I knew I’d made a mistake and that I couldn’t escape the consequences.adjectivesthe possible/likely consequences· What are the likely consequences of these changes?an inevitable consequence (=that you cannot avoid)· Loss of mobility is not an inevitable consequence of old age.serious consequences (=bad and important)· Too much fishing in these seas has had serious consequences.disastrous/dire consequences (=very bad and damaging)· If temperatures continue to rise, it could have disastrous consequences for agriculture.an important consequence· This discovery was an important consequence of his research.social/political/economic consequences· The rise in food prices has had enormous economic and political consequences.a direct consequence of something (=a consequence directly caused by something)· The spread of information has been a direct consequence of the Internet.a natural/logical consequence (=that naturally/logically follows something)· Obviously disappointment is a natural consequence of defeat.a negative consequence (=a bad or unpleasant result)· the negative consequences of drinking too much alcoholan adverse/unfortunate consequence (=that affects your life, a situation etc badly)· Divorce often has unfortunate consequences for children.tragic consequences (=very sad, usually involving death)· Someone dropped a burning cigarette, with tragic consequences.far-reaching consequences (=important and affecting many things)· The new law is sure to have far-reaching consequences.long-term consequences (=results that last a long time, or appear after a long time)· If you smoke it may have long-term consequences.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- If river levels continue to rise, it will have very serious consequences for many people's homes.
- Ignoring safety procedures can have potentially tragic consequences.
- Pain and illness are sometimes thought to be the unavoidable consequences of growing old.
- People who run up big debts eventually have to face the consequences.
- Safety procedures had been ignored, with disastrous consequences.
- We are very much aware of the consequences our actions will have.
- After the closing of its distribution centers led to organizational disaster, the firm did its best to minimize these consequences.
- Except the consequences are completely predictable.
- It is important to bear in mind that these financial consequences have, until very recently, remained largely hidden.
- One consequence was to usher in a period of marked discretion in personal expenditure.
- The outcome of the election is, at least in simple majority systems, a direct arithmetic consequence of the individual votes cast.
- This form of destitution in the midst of plenty is not only morally obscene; it has social consequences which affect everyone.
- This was her final act of spite, to take the piece and leave Paige to face the consequences.
THESAURUS
something that happens because of something else: · The fire at the house was the result of a dropped cigarette.· Many people find that herbal remedies produce a good result.
something important that happens as the result of a decision or action: · Global warming will have serious consequences for the environment.· Rising prices are the inevitable consequence of the grain shortage.
the bad effects that happen later as a result of an event, often a long time afterwards: · The economic crisis in the US is likely to have serious repercussions for the rest of the world.· The scandal could have major repercussions for his career.
the final result of a meeting, election, war etc: · The final outcome of the election remained in doubt for several days.· So, what is the likely outcome for Spain?
the final result of a situation, especially when this was unexpected: · The upshot of all this was that the trial had to be delayed.
literary the things that have been achieved as a result of someone’s efforts – used especially in the following phrases: · He did not live to see the fruits of his labours.· They can now enjoy the fruits of their success.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that happens or exists because of something else something that happens because of someone's actions or because of something else that happened before: result of: · Her constant cough is the result of many years of smoking.· The results of the attack included two helicopters burnt out, and three groundcrew wounded.with the result that: · More and more people are using cars, with the result that towns are much more polluted.as a result: · Jobs are hard to get and, as a result, more young people are continuing their education.a direct result of something (=caused by only one thing even if people think there may be other causes): · Her parents believe that her death was a direct result of medical error.
when a person or situation is changed by something that happens or something that someone does: effect of: · The effects of the oil spill were devastating for wildlife.· the harmful effects of radiationhave an effect/have no effect: · All my efforts to persuade them were beginning to have an effect.· I've been taking these pills for three days, but so far they've had no effect.effect on: · The death of a parent can have very serious and long-lasting effects on a child.have a bad/good effect (on something/somebody): · Any increase in fuel costs could have a bad effect on business.
the consequences of an action, decision etc are the things that happen as a result of it, which are usually bad: consequence of: · Pain and illness are sometimes thought to be the unavoidable consequences of growing old.consequence for: · If river levels continue to rise, it will have very serious consequences for many people's homes.take/face the consequences (=accept the bad results of something you do): · People who run up big debts eventually have to face the consequences.damaging/dire/disastrous etc consequences: · Safety procedures had been ignored, with disastrous consequences.
formal all the possible results that a plan, action, or discovery could have, especially when they affect what you think or do or what happens in the future: implications of: · The legal implications of the case are extremely significant.implications for: · Any change in interest rates has important implications for most people's financial situation.important/significant/profound etc implications: · The discovery of planets orbiting other suns has profound implications.
the situation that exists at the end of a meeting, activity, or series of events, especially when no one knows what this will be until it actually happens: · Whatever the outcome, I hope we remain friends.· The talks had a better outcome than we had originally hoped.outcome of: · It's impossible to say for sure what the outcome of the election will be.affect/influence the outcome: · The patient's general health and fitness can also affect the outcome of the disease.predict the outcome: · At this point, I wouldn't even try to predict the outcome, but we're hoping for the best.
the result of something, especially when it is a little unusual or unexpected: upshot of: · What was the upshot of the trial?the upshot is that: · The upshot of that experience was that I decided I didn't want to study medicine after all.
the final situation that exists after a long time, process, or series of events: · It was impossible for many small businesses to survive, and the end result was the loss of many jobs.the end result is that: · If students constantly fail, the end result is that they switch off any interest in learning.
the final situation that exists when you consider all the details and facts - use this when this situation is not good: · The net result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels.the net result/effect is that: · The new system is designed to spread payments over several months but the net effect is that people pay more in total.
a bad effect that exists for a long time after the activity or event that caused it: · The earthquake struck a week ago but the city is still feeling the aftereffects.aftereffect of: · A large number of working days are lost through the aftereffects of alcohol abuse.psychological aftereffects: · The psychological aftereffects of a tragedy like the Zeebrugge disaster can stay with the survivors for years.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs The failure of the talks could have catastrophic consequences. warnings of dire consequences that often don’t come true Climate change could have disastrous effects on Earth. Disease was an inevitable consequence of poor living conditions. The probable result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels. Tolstoy’s experiences of war had a profound effect on his work. The mother’s behaviour has a profound impact on the developing child. The drug may have other undesirable effects.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Low energy may be a consequence of sleeping badly.
· Taking financial risks can have serious consequences.
(=understand and deal with them)· I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my decision.
(=accept the bad results of something you have done)· He broke the law, and he will have to face the consequences.
(=happen)· Once the decision has been made, consequences follow.
(=think what might happen as a result of something)· She jumped into the river without considering the consequences.
(=avoid them)· I knew I’d made a mistake and that I couldn’t escape the consequences.
adjectives· What are the likely consequences of these changes?
(=that you cannot avoid)· Loss of mobility is not an inevitable consequence of old age.
(=bad and important)· Too much fishing in these seas has had serious consequences.
(=very bad and damaging)· If temperatures continue to rise, it could have disastrous consequences for agriculture.
· This discovery was an important consequence of his research.
· The rise in food prices has had enormous economic and political consequences.
(=a consequence directly caused by something)· The spread of information has been a direct consequence of the Internet.
(=that naturally/logically follows something)· Obviously disappointment is a natural consequence of defeat.
(=a bad or unpleasant result)· the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol
(=that affects your life, a situation etc badly)· Divorce often has unfortunate consequences for children.
(=very sad, usually involving death)· Someone dropped a burning cigarette, with tragic consequences.
(=important and affecting many things)· The new law is sure to have far-reaching consequences.
(=results that last a long time, or appear after a long time)· If you smoke it may have long-term consequences.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The failure of the talks could have catastrophic consequences.· a terrible disease with devastating results
warnings of dire consequences that often don’t come true· Many illnesses here are a direct consequence of bad diet.
Climate change could have disastrous effects on Earth.· The political consequences of failure would be defeat at the next election.
Disease was an inevitable consequence of poor living conditions.· Consider the options open to you, and their likely consequences.
The probable result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels. Tolstoy’s experiences of war had a profound effect on his work. The mother’s behaviour has a profound impact on the developing child.· Neglecting to make a proper will can have serious consequences.
· If they cannot learn to adapt, they will suffer the consequences.
The drug may have other undesirable effects.· Failure to persuade medical staff of the adverse consequences on patient care should be reported to the next level of management.· Hospital stays for these patients could be safely limited to 24 to 48 hours with no apparent adverse consequences.· Some of these cost very little, if anything, but all have been shown to ameliorate the adverse consequences of change.· Because of adverse tax consequences, consider owning these bonds in a tax-deferred account.· Not only are there few adverse occupational consequences, but there is very little social scandal.· The tenant will, however, need to ensure that too wide a use will not have adverse consequences on rent review.· Press and television reports on the adverse consequences of the centre's decision may lead to the decision being reconsidered.
· As a result, at least some of the Bill's dire consequences were mitigated.· Both suggest, either by statement or implication, that Buchanan is an extremist and warn of dire consequences to his nomination.· The conditions may sound wonderful, but they can have dire consequences.· Most came to realize that leading such an imbalanced life led to dire consequences.· John Gibson highlights the regressive aspects of recent local government financial reform, and predicts dire consequences for the urban poor.· There are coaches who can use this disparity to full advantage, without dire recruiting consequences.· He also warned of dire consequences such as hyper-inflation if the country failed to maintain a unified budget and a co-ordinated fiscal policy.· The sweep into Putumayo promises equally dire consequences.
· The report had been generally very favourable and his and his colleagues' morale had improved as a direct consequence.· The first of these events was a direct consequence of the war.· The change was thought to be a direct consequence of the protest action taken by conscripts in May.· In the long run, however, some results are expected to be demonstrated which have direct economic consequences.· This was often a direct consequence of bad diet: too much matooke and nothing else.· The outcome of the election is, at least in simple majority systems, a direct arithmetic consequence of the individual votes cast.· The bruise is a direct causal consequence of the bump.· Each operator adds a single new fact which is a direct consequence of what is known already.
· I remember November 5, 1953, when a tendency to clear up had rather a disastrous consequence.· Each man lacks the stamina to confront the disastrous consequences of unbridled and law-breaking greed.· This can have disastrous consequences for growing horses who need calcium for bone formation.· It is untested, too risky and too vulnerable to disastrous financial consequences.· Unfortunately for the United States, hewing to the status quo could have disastrous unintended consequences.· It would, however, have disastrous consequences for the poor and in the long term for society as a whole.· Declines in stocking levels can also have disastrous consequences if combined with tourist use.· Environmentalists warn that deforestation of this critical watershed area could have disastrous consequences for downstream regions.
· There are obvious economic consequences of this problem for firms.· The ratings of the program dropped and the network, apparently fearing the economic consequences, reinstated Rooney.· This time delay can have safety and/or economic consequences hence the need to accelerate the experts' diagnosis and decision processes.· The growing burden of paperwork is persuasive evidence of bureaucratic indifference to the economic consequences of red. tape.· They may therefore be able to force governments to examine the economic consequences of bowing too readily to environmental prejudices.· Marriage has social and economic consequences that extend beyond two people.· The social and economic consequences of mass exodus for the countries receiving those affected will be examined.· In the long run, however, some results are expected to be demonstrated which have direct economic consequences.
· Some of the environmental consequences have been deeply negative.· While addressing this economic question, how can we use natural gas to mitigate the environmental consequences of increased coal burning?· It commented, too, on the environmental and ecological consequences.· We have difficulty making even the most obvious connections between human activities and their environmental consequences.· In addition, the social, employment and environmental consequences of open cast mining are the subjects of quite varied interpretations.· Yet the environmental consequences of unchecked population growth will be devastating.· However, nothing is known about the long-term environmental consequences - or even effectiveness - of using the ocean beds as dumps.· This has had damaging environmental consequences, such as creating new pressures for house building and increasing reliance on car-based transport.
· It can have far-reaching financial consequences affecting not just you, but your home and family too.· These considerations imply that their extra compensation pays only for their value of survival and part of its financial consequences.· It is important to bear in mind that these financial consequences have, until very recently, remained largely hidden.· It is untested, too risky and too vulnerable to disastrous financial consequences.· Because neither life insurance nor private health plans normally cover you against the financial consequences of a seriously disabling accident.· If the figures or the financial consequences are in dispute then that must be stated.· Faced with the financial consequences of its commitment to a hard law and order policy the Government has attempted a conjuring trick.
· Clearly, individual gains, in terms of meeting individual needs, have important collective consequences in a trade union.· Intentions become more important than the consequences of actions.· A further important consequence was the more rapid implementation of planned petrochemical projects in response to sharp rises in oil production and oil prices.· One of the most important consequences of the war was the hardening of ideological and political lines between North and South.· A further important consequence was an increase in the importance of the national governments relative to the authority of the Commission.· Yet it is clear that transport costs can have important consequences in the presence of economies of scale.· As the links between painting and teaching are close, the mixture of the two elements has important consequences.· The predominantly middle-class character of the suburbs and the commuting population was to have important social consequences.
· Felt was an almost inevitable consequence of keeping woolly sheep.· Such loyalty is by no means automatic or the inevitable consequence of propinquity.· There were exaggerated expectations for one thing, a more or less inevitable consequence of those golden years.· This knowledge brings solace, because the organization is familiar with the inevitable consequences and believes it can effectively deal with them.· This is partly the inevitable consequence of gender being socially constructed.· Judgemade economic policy seems an almost inevitable consequence of a balanced-budget amendment in our litigious society.· Such a proliferation of bureaucracy is an inevitable consequence of the expansion of the activities of the state.· Finally, restricting has the inevitable consequence of spreading unhealthy fear throughout an organization.
· It is most important that the patient considers the likely consequences of different ways of trying to achieve goals.· An evaluation can also indicate with some authority what are likely outcomes or consequences of recommended revisions.· They are like charts which allow predictions to be made about the likely consequences of taking different courses of action.· The process leading up to this and its likely consequences for teaching are discussed in detail in the article by Walsh.· Soviet television crews were taken to the site, telegenic Soviet doctors were produced to discuss the likely consequences.· In the absence of systematic research on these questions one can only speculate on the likely consequences of changes in employment practices.· Next, you have to consider the options open to you and their likely consequences.· After an election, this policy has to be reversed to avoid the likely inflationary consequences.
· These relationships were a natural consequence of evolution working to produce mutual interactions from which all the species involved would benefit.· Fire follows bugs as a natural consequence.· In particular, the counsellor can counter the belief that pain and illness are the natural and unavoidable consequences of growing old.· Instead, it is a natural consequence of convection in a sphere.· De-hospitalization can be seen as a natural consequence of the decline in numbers of old long-stay patients.· Instead we should see it as the natural consequence of trying to change schools from the top down.· There is a morality of natural consequences.· The blossoming of mathematics and astronomy was a natural consequence of this awareness.
· Neither is upward mobility, rising income or independence a necessary consequence of their diligence.· These are, however, necessary consequences of the division of labour and the consequent role of trust in social relationships.· In neither ease was the omission a necessary consequence of the intellectual stance of the two schools.· That stratification would occur as a necessary consequence of the alienation of labour.
· As will be seen, however, this high commitment of the training staff had both positive and negative consequences.· And will the label have negative consequences for the person to whom it is applied?· What Simmel accomplishes is a realization of the inseparability of the positive and negative consequences of these social transformations.· This report deals with the positive and negative consequences of activities and behaviors from a health and medical point of view.· The negative consequences of inappropriate behaviour should be predictable to the child: he/she should know what to expect.· Lack of this awareness can have serious negative consequences.· And I have indicated some of the negative consequences of pragmatic failure.· If such labeling had some positive effects, it might be worth risking the negative consequences for those who are labeled abnormal.
· The political consequences of marriage were frequently cancelled out by other counter-alliances.· We try to focus completely on the policy, but we are not unaware of the political consequences.· Attempts to change the land-based activities that cause coastal pollution would have far-reaching economic, political and social consequences.· But how could such an act not be fraught with political implications and consequences?· From Raymond Williams I learnt the political and moral consequences and obligations of being educated away from the life you were born into.· There can be no political morality without prudence; that is, without consideration of the political consequences of seemingly moral action.· Ethics in the abstract judges action by its conformity with the moral law; political ethics judges action by its political consequences.
· There is another possible consequence of this change, which may or may not have been intended.· I would come up with any possible imaginable consequence.· These raised marine deposits point to possible consequences of a global rise in sea level resulting from climatic change.· These actual and possible consequences make it clear that the course adopted by the judge was wrong.· Both the reasons for the war and the possible consequences have been mired in confusion from the beginning.· Maybe young people carry knives for effect, without considering possible consequences.· The child must be fully aware of what he is consenting to and what the possible consequences may be.
· Unless the slope of the baseline drift is very steep the decline has few practical consequences except to sharpen competitive pressures.· When families fall short, society has to cope with the practical consequences.· The practical consequences of time limits which are not of the essence of the contract are such that they are virtually meaningless.· By this time, Leibniz was moving outward toward an application of his system with practical consequences.· The regime is abstract in concept, political in intent and largely insensitive to practical consequences in a highly practical industry.· The practical consequence has previously been that prolonged autoradiographic techniques were required.· For some Ajdabiyans the cases of Carnation Milk provided an amusing commentary on official inconsistency without having any practical consequences.· This is a nicety, perhaps with no practical consequences.
· And this had profound consequences for the functioning of each system.· As a result, what we see is consistently open to interpretation, often with profound and tragic consequences.· The electric light was an invention with profound existential consequences.· December is a month when what is said and who you meet could have profound consequences.· It was a defeat which was to have profound and far-reaching consequences for state medical regulation of sexuality.· They are worried that genetic differences imported into the native flora will have profound ecological consequences.· As these change, so do capacities for different forms of political action, with profound consequences for the Labour Party.
· Some believe accident might have had even more serious consequences.· Lack of this awareness can have serious negative consequences.· Very serious consequences can and do follow from people or organisations being indifferent to the results of their actions.· It is estimated that 10 to 30 percent of adults snore and have no serious medical consequences as a result.· This is having serious consequences for local employment, as it has done elsewhere.· They try too hard to engineer a safe environment for their child and, in so doing, interfere substantially-with serious consequences.· They may catch other infections such as measles or chicken-pox, with serious consequences due to their deficient immune system.· If unfavorable patterns emerged, we could address them quickly before they had serious consequences.
· One person's disobedience can have awful social consequences for many other innocent people.· Therefore she must be prepared to remain single, and accept the social consequences of her decision.· This form of destitution in the midst of plenty is not only morally obscene; it has social consequences which affect everyone.· Marriage has social and economic consequences that extend beyond two people.· In addition, the research is expected to shed light on the social consequences of cities' changing economic roles.· Feedback also had positive social consequences.· Attempts to change the land-based activities that cause coastal pollution would have far-reaching economic, political and social consequences.· The predominantly middle-class character of the suburbs and the commuting population was to have important social consequences.
· Mrs Layton described the unintended consequences of a small incident in her Bethnal Green childhood.· Even scientific innovations with benign intentions had unintended consequences.· As the next section shows, the skilful use of mixed messages leads to a range of unintended and counter-productive consequences.· Not all arguments against core group intervention are based on the fear of unintended consequences.· Two problems, however, arose with this formulation, which were to produce unintended political consequences.· This will be a major undertaking and one fraught with the possibility of unintended consequences.· Could it not have been a minor act of spite on some one's part which had had unintended fatal consequences?· But like air bags, the new rules are having unintended consequences, and Olson describes them fully.
VERB· Border has a history of reacting to situations before considering all the consequences.· A performance focus forces everyone to consider the consequences and benefits of changing or not changing.· The child is warned in advance about those behaviours that are considered inappropriate and the consequences that will follow from them.· But those who dismiss monogamy as a strategy fail to consider the long-term consequences of maintaining a culture of promiscuity.· It is most important that the patient considers the likely consequences of different ways of trying to achieve goals.· They sat motionless, considering the consequences.· You need to consider what consequences, what additional motivating events or rewards you can use to keep you going.· I write reams of dry prose with appropriately technical language and what my colleagues consider scientific consequence.
· But he claimed they were well aware they were breaking the law and were prepared to face the consequences.· They are facing the consequences of having allowed, and encouraged, the entry of a new class of member.· Otherwise Congress would have to face the consequences of automatic across-the-board cuts under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings budget deficit reduction law.· This was her final act of spite, to take the piece and leave Paige to face the consequences.· He would have to face the consequences of his actions.· Could Eddie have run out of that corner deliberately because he couldn't face the consequences of his gambling?· As far as sin is concerned, we must bin it or face the consequences.
· Yet most people never suffer the consequences of aluminium poisoning.· Some are not, and when we have found them, they have suffered the consequences.· Many victims also suffer the long-term consequences of smoking and alcohol.· Apple, however, kept a tight grip on its technology and suffered the consequences.· Children's development opportunities suffer in consequence.· Nor does the witness alone suffer the consequences.· Probably, the majority of people infected with the virus of type B hepatitis will suffer no important consequences.· If they can not learn to adapt, they will suffer the consequences.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► as a consequence (of something)/in consequence (of something)PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- Choosing the gender of your baby is an individual decision of no consequence to anybody else.
- During the bad weather we experienced a few disasters and events, but they were of little consequence.
- It clearly ranks as the first written literature of any consequence.
- Neither country had other exports of any consequence.
- No signal can be received outside that range but this is of no consequence.
- They were of no consequence, I knew they were of no consequence.
- At the outset of our friendship it was always Brian who exploded and damn the consequences.
- Spurrier says whatever is on his always-racing mind, even in victory and figures damn the consequences.
- In neither ease was the omission a necessary consequence of the intellectual stance of the two schools.
- It is further easy to see that there is no necessary connection between subsidy-free prices and Ramsey-optional prices.
- Men. come and go in their lives, but there is no necessary connection between motherhood and marriage.
- Neither is upward mobility, rising income or independence a necessary consequence of their diligence.
- Normative positivism asserts what legal positivists deny, namely that there is a necessary connection between law and positive morality.
- That stratification would occur as a necessary consequence of the alienation of labour.
- The difficulty is finding any necessary connection between two cases.
- These are, however, necessary consequences of the division of labour and the consequent role of trust in social relationships.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveconsequentconsequential ≠ inconsequentialadverbconsequentlyinconsequentiallynounconsequence
1[countable] something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditionsconsequence of Many believe that poverty is a direct consequence of overpopulation.consequence for Our findings have far-reaching consequences for researchers.with ... consequences He ate some poisonous mushrooms, with fatal consequences.► see thesaurus at result2as a consequence (of something)/in consequence (of something) formal as a result of something: Animals have died as a consequence of coming into contact with this chemical. She was over the age limit and, in consequence, her application was rejected.3of little/no/any etc consequence formal not very important or valuableconsequence to Your opinion is of little consequence to me. I don’t suppose it is of any consequence now.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe a consequence of something· Low energy may be a consequence of sleeping badly.have consequences· Taking financial risks can have serious consequences.accept/take the consequences (=understand and deal with them)· I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my decision.face/suffer the consequences (=accept the bad results of something you have done)· He broke the law, and he will have to face the consequences.consequences follow (=happen)· Once the decision has been made, consequences follow.consider the consequences (=think what might happen as a result of something)· She jumped into the river without considering the consequences.escape the consequences (=avoid them)· I knew I’d made a mistake and that I couldn’t escape the consequences.adjectivesthe possible/likely consequences· What are the likely consequences of these changes?an inevitable consequence (=that you cannot avoid)· Loss of mobility is not an inevitable consequence of old age.serious consequences (=bad and important)· Too much fishing in these seas has had serious consequences.disastrous/dire consequences (=very bad and damaging)· If temperatures continue to rise, it could have disastrous consequences for agriculture.an important consequence· This discovery was an important consequence of his research.social/political/economic consequences· The rise in food prices has had enormous economic and political consequences.a direct consequence of something (=a consequence directly caused by something)· The spread of information has been a direct consequence of the Internet.a natural/logical consequence (=that naturally/logically follows something)· Obviously disappointment is a natural consequence of defeat.a negative consequence (=a bad or unpleasant result)· the negative consequences of drinking too much alcoholan adverse/unfortunate consequence (=that affects your life, a situation etc badly)· Divorce often has unfortunate consequences for children.tragic consequences (=very sad, usually involving death)· Someone dropped a burning cigarette, with tragic consequences.far-reaching consequences (=important and affecting many things)· The new law is sure to have far-reaching consequences.long-term consequences (=results that last a long time, or appear after a long time)· If you smoke it may have long-term consequences.