Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense causes, present participle causing, past tense, past participle caused
1. countable noun
The causeof an event, usually a bad event, is the thing that makes it happen.
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death and disease. [+ of]
The causes are a complex blend of local and national tensions.
Synonyms: origin, source, agency, spring More Synonyms of cause
2. verb
To cause something, usually something bad, means to make it happen.
Attempts to limit family size among some minorities are likely to cause problems. [VERB noun]
This was a genuine mistake, but it did cause me some worry. [VERB noun noun]
...a protein that gets into animal cells and attacks other proteins, causing diseaseto spread. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Experts are assessing the damage caused by a fire at the aircraft factory. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: produce, begin, create, effect More Synonyms of cause
3. uncountable noun [oft NOUN to-infinitive]
If you have causefor a particular feeling or action, you have good reasons for feeling it or doing it.
Only a few people can find any cause for celebration. [+ for]
Both had much cause to be grateful.
4. countable noun
A cause is an aim or principle which a group of people supports or is fighting for.
Refusing to have one leader has not helped the cause.
5. See also lost cause
6.
See cause and effect
7.
See to make common cause with someone
8.
See in a good cause/for a good cause
More Synonyms of cause
'cause
(kəz) also cause
conjunction
'Cause is an informal way of saying because.
30 families are suffering 'cause they're out of work.
cause in British English
(kɔːz)
noun
1.
a person, thing, event, state, or action that produces an effect
2.
grounds for action; motive; justification
she had good cause to shout like that
3.
the ideals, etc, of a group or movement
the Communist cause
4.
the welfare or interests of a person or group in a dispute
they fought for the miners' cause
5.
a matter of widespread concern or importance
the cause of public health
6.
a.
a ground for legal action; matter giving rise to a lawsuit
b.
the lawsuit itself
7.
(in the philosophy of Aristotle) any of four requirements for a thing's coming to be, namely material (material cause), its nature (formal cause), an agent (efficient cause), and a purpose (final cause)
8. make common cause with
verb
9. (transitive)
to be the cause of; bring about; precipitate; be the reason for
Derived forms
causable (ˈcausable)
adjective
causability (ˌcausaˈbility)
noun
causeless (ˈcauseless)
adjective
causer (ˈcauser)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Latin causa cause, reason, motive
'cause in American English
(kɔz; kʌz)
conjunction
Informal, Dialectal
because
cause in American English
(kɔz)
noun
1.
anything producing an effect or result
2.
a person or thing acting voluntarily or involuntarily as the agent that brings aboutan effect or result
drinking was the cause of his downfall
3.
a reason, motive, or ground for some action, feeling, etc.; esp., sufficient reason
cause for complaint
4.
any objective or movement that a person or group is interested in and supports, esp. one involvingsocial reform
5. Law
an action or question to be resolved by a court of law
verb transitiveWord forms: caused or ˈcausing
6.
to be the cause of; bring about; make happen; effect, induce, produce, compel, etc.
Idioms:
make common cause with
SYNONYMY NOTE: cause, in its distinctive sense, refers to a situation, event, or agent that produces aneffect or result [carelessness is often a cause of accident]; reason implies the mental activity of a rational being in explaining or justifying someact or thought [she had a reason for laughing]; a motive is an impulse, emotion, or desire that leads to action [the motive for a crime]; an antecedent is an event or thing that is the predecessor of, and is responsible for, a laterevent or thing [war always has its antecedents]; a determinant is a cause that helps to determine the character of an effect or result [ambition was a determinant in his success]
Derived forms
causeless (ˈcauseless)
adjective
causer (ˈcauser)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr < L causa, a cause, reason, judicial process, lawsuit: infl. (in senses cause (sense 4) & cause (sense 5)) by case1
Examples of 'cause' in a sentence
cause
This can be very helpful in detecting one possible cause of your symptoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Since then they have improved security and thrown out the odd person who has caused a problem.
The Sun (2016)
Our four good causes were picked to help those who deserve the most help.
The Sun (2016)
Tourists taking selfies and groups of laughing visitors have caused concern in the past.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Another reason why bosses with too much testosterone cause trouble is that their presence tends to lead to excessive board politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He needn't worry about that song causing a riot.
The Sun (2016)
If any of these hair-raising prospects had come to pass, there would be a cause for genuine alarm.
The Sun (2016)
When young people cause disturbances in public how often do us adults intervene?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It soon becomes apparent that there was no one single cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Too many language differences and the misunderstandings they bring can cause all kinds of accidents to happen.
The Sun (2006)
What factors are most likely to cause a pastor to be discouraged?
Christianity Today (2000)
Surely this tells us something about the cause of our problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The pattern of causes is obviously complex.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
They raced out to find the cause.
Campbell, Eileen & Brennan, J. H. Dictionary of Mind, Body and Spirit (1994)
And one possible answer is the biggest cause for concern.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They said that a postmortem examination would be needed to determine the cause of death.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is a genuine cause for concern and adds to the uncertain outlook.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The snow also caused extensive damage to trees that had just come into leaf.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They go on strike during the most vulnerable periods to cause as much disruption as possible.
The Sun (2011)
This is a common cause of bad breath.
Chaitow, Leon Bad Breath (1994)
They all selflessly cut loose for a good cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This association may or may not be one of cause and effect.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
Treatment of the elderly is a particular cause for concern.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Survival alone is not sufficient cause for celebration.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Some members of the liberal opposition are nervous about making common cause with the nationalists.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The disease spreads outward causing inflammation in the surrounding area.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Taking time to listen can turn a person who caused problems into a friend with love potential.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
cause
British English: cause /kɔːz/ NOUN
event The cause of an event is the thing that makes it happen.
We still don't know the exact cause of the accident.
American English: cause reason
Arabic: سَبَب
Brazilian Portuguese: causa
Chinese: 原因
Croatian: uzrok
Czech: příčina
Danish: årsag
Dutch: reden oorzaak
European Spanish: causa
Finnish: syy
French: cause
German: Ursache
Greek: αιτία
Italian: causa
Japanese: 理由
Korean: 원인
Norwegian: grunn
Polish: powód
European Portuguese: causa
Romanian: cauză
Russian: причина
Latin American Spanish: causa razón
Swedish: orsak
Thai: สาเหตุ
Turkish: neden
Ukrainian: причина
Vietnamese: nguyên do
British English: cause /kɔːz/ NOUN
aim A cause is an aim which a group of people supports or is fighting for.
...present-day supporters of the cause.
American English: cause ideals
Arabic: قَضِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: causa
Chinese: 事业
Croatian: cilj
Czech: věc
Danish: sag
Dutch: doel idealen
European Spanish: causa
Finnish: asia kannatuksen kohde
French: cause
German: Sache
Greek: σκοπός ιδανικό
Italian: causa
Japanese: 大義
Korean: 이상 이상적
Norwegian: sak
Polish: motyw
European Portuguese: causa
Romanian: cauză
Russian: цель
Latin American Spanish: causa ideales
Swedish: sak
Thai: เป้าหมาย
Turkish: amaç
Ukrainian: справа
Vietnamese: sự nghiệp
British English: cause /kɔːz/ VERB
To cause something, usually something bad, means to make it happen.
Attempts to limit family size among some minorities are likely to cause problems.
American English: cause
Arabic: يُسَبِّبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: causar
Chinese: 引起
Croatian: prouzročiti
Czech: způsobit
Danish: forårsage
Dutch: veroorzaken
European Spanish: causar
Finnish: aiheuttaa
French: causer
German: verursachen
Greek: προκαλώ
Italian: provocare
Japanese: 引き起こす
Korean: 원인이 되다
Norwegian: forårsake
Polish: spowodować
European Portuguese: causar
Romanian: a cauza
Russian: послужить причиной
Latin American Spanish: causar
Swedish: orsaka
Thai: ทำให้เกิด
Turkish: yol açmak
Ukrainian: спричиняти
Vietnamese: gây ra
All related terms of 'cause'
cause alarm
Alarm is a feeling of fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen .
cause list
a list of cases awaiting a hearing
final cause
the end or purpose of a thing or process, as opposed to its efficient cause
first cause
a source or cause of something
just cause
a standard that must be met to justify the disciplining or dismissal of an employee
lost cause
If you refer to something or someone as a lost cause , you mean that people's attempts to change or influence them have no chance of succeeding .
root cause
the fundamental reason for the occurrence of a problem
cause célèbre
A cause cé l èbre is an issue , person, or criminal trial that has attracted a lot of public attention and discussion .
cause disease
A disease is an illness which affects people, animals, or plants, for example one which is caused by bacteria or infection .
cause offence
If you cause offence or give offence to someone, you say or do something rude which upsets or embarrasses them.
cause trouble
You can refer to problems or difficulties as trouble .
cause a fire
Fire or a fire is an occurrence of uncontrolled burning which destroys buildings, forests , or other things.
cause a loss
Loss is the fact of no longer having something or having less of it than before.
cause infection
An infection is a disease caused by germs or bacteria.
efficient cause
that which produces an effect by a causal process
probable cause
reasonable grounds for holding a belief, esp such as will justify bringing legal proceedings against a person or will constitute a defence to a charge of malicious prosecution
secondary cause
a cause which is not the primary or ultimate cause
cause a crisis
A crisis is a situation in which something or someone is affected by one or more very serious problems .
cause an accident
An accident happens when a vehicle hits a person, an object, or another vehicle, causing injury or damage .
cause and effect
You use cause and effect to talk about the way in which one thing is caused by another.
cause an illness
Illness is the fact or experience of being ill .
cause embarrassment
Embarrassment is the feeling you have when you are embarrassed .
cause of action
the facts alleged in a complaint , upon which is based the plaintiff's right to a legal remedy in a court of law
for a good cause
If you say that something is for a good cause , you mean that it is worth doing or giving to because it will help other people, for example by raising money for charity .
make common cause with
to join with (a person, group, etc) for a common objective
in a good cause/for a good cause
If you say that something is in a good cause or for a good cause , you mean that it is worth doing or giving to because it will help other people, for example by raising money for charity .
to make common cause with someone
If one group of people makes common cause with another, they act together in order to achieve a particular aim even though their aims and beliefs are normally very different.
Chinese translation of 'cause'
cause
(kɔːz)
n
(c)[of event]起因 (qǐyīn) (个(個), gè)
⇒ Nobody knew the cause of the explosion.没有人知道这次爆炸的起因。 (Méiyǒu rén zhīdào zhè cì bàozhà de qǐyīn.)
(u) (= reason) 理由 (lǐyóu)
(c) (= aim, principle) 事业(業) (shìyè)
⇒ He is sympathetic to our cause.他支持我们的事业。 (Tā zhīchí wǒmen de shìyè.)
vt
(= produce, lead to) 导(導)致 (dǎozhì)
⇒ Does smoking cause cancer?吸烟是否导致癌症？ (Xīyān shìfǒu dǎozhì áizhèng?)
to have cause for sth/to do sth某事/做某事有原因 (mǒushì/zuò mǒushì yǒu yuányīn)
there is no cause for concern没(沒)有理由担(擔)心 (méiyǒu lǐyóu dānxīn)
to cause sb to do sth促使某人做某事 (cùshǐ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
to cause sth to happen导(導)致某事发(發)生 (dǎozhì mǒushì fāshēng)