Cause Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 6, 2024
Cause refers to something that produces an effect, result, or consequence. e.g., Pollution is a major cause of environmental damage.
Table of Contents
Cause Definitions
A factor or event that brings about a result or effect.
Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer.
The origin or source of something.
Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.
A legal matter or litigation.
The lawyer presented the cause in court.
To bring about or provoke a specific result or effect.
Excessive rain can cause flooding.
The underlying reason behind a problem or issue.
Poverty is often the cause of crime in urban areas.
A goal or objective that unites a group or community.
The charity event was held for a noble cause.
The reason or justification for an action or event.
They fought for the cause of freedom.
A principle or movement one is committed to or advocates for.
She dedicated her life to the cause of animal rights.
A motive or grounds for action.
There was no cause for alarm as the situation was under control.
To be the reason someone or something acts or behaves in a certain way.
His speech caused widespread controversy.
The producer of an effect, result, or consequence.
The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result.
A basis for an action or response; a reason
The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm.
A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal
“the cause of freedom versus tyranny” (Hannah Arendt).
The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle
“The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind” (Thomas Paine).
A lawsuit or criminal prosecution.
The ground or basis for a lawsuit.
A subject under debate or discussion.
To be the cause of or reason for; result in.
To bring about or compel by authority or force
The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.
The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding.
Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.
There is no cause for alarm.
The end of the war was a cause for celebration.
(countable) A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.
(obsolete) Sake; interest; advantage.
Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.
A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
(transitive) To set off an event or action.
The lightning caused thunder.
(ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.
His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful.
(obsolete) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
Alternative form of 'cause; because
That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist.
Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be.
That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.
Sake; interest; advantage.
I did it not for his cause.
A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.
Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general.
What counsel give you in this weighty cause!
The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain.
God befriend us, as our cause is just.
The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause.
To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; - usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb.
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days.
Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.
To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
Abbreviation of Because.
Events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something;
They are trying to determine the cause of the crash
A justification for something existing or happening;
He had no cause to complain
They had good reason to rejoice
A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end;
He supported populist campaigns
They worked in the cause of world peace
The team was ready for a drive toward the pennant
The movement to end slavery
Contributed to the war effort
Any entity that causes events to happen
A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy;
The family brought suit against the landlord
Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Cause Snonyms
Root
The basic cause, source, or origin of something.
Poverty is the root of many social problems.
Factor
A circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result.
Stress is a significant factor in mental health issues.
Source
A place, person, or thing from which something originates.
Pollution is a major source of environmental damage.
Reason
The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction.
The reason for the delay was a traffic jam.
Antecedent
A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.
Understanding the antecedents of the American Revolution is crucial.
Trigger
An event or circumstance that is the cause of a particular action, process, or situation.
The trigger for the protest was the controversial legislation.
Origin
The point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived.
The origin of the universe has always fascinated scientists.
Catalyst
Something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
The assassination was the catalyst for the outbreak of war.
Motivation
The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
His motivation for studying hard is to get into a good college.
Basis
The underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process.
Trust is the basis of a strong relationship.
Cause Idioms & Phrases
Lost cause
A hopeless case or situation.
Trying to fix the old car was a lost cause.
Champion a cause
To ardently support or defend a principle.
She champions the cause of sustainable living.
Cause a stir
To create a sensation or excitement.
The celebrity's appearance caused quite a stir.
Cause and effect
The principle that an action results in a certain response.
The cause and effect of climate change are well-documented.
Common cause
A shared goal or interest.
They made a common cause to save the historic building.
Cause célèbre
A controversial issue that attracts a great deal of public attention.
The trial became a cause célèbre due to its high-profile figures.
Give cause to
To provide a reason or justification for something.
His behavior gave cause to believe he was hiding something.
Cause for concern
A reason to worry.
The rising pollution levels are a cause for concern.
No cause for alarm
No reason to be worried or scared.
The police assured that there was no cause for alarm.
Without cause
Without a valid reason or justification.
She felt she was dismissed without cause from her job.
A good cause
A charitable or worthwhile purpose.
The proceeds from the event went to a good cause.
Cause of action
A legal reason to bring a lawsuit.
The attorney outlined the cause of action during the consultation.
Cause a scene
To create a public disturbance or commotion.
He caused a scene when he started shouting in the restaurant.
Just cause
A morally or legally sufficient reason.
They believed they had just cause for filing the lawsuit.
Serve the cause
To aid or promote a particular purpose.
Volunteering at the shelter serves the cause of helping homeless animals.
Take up the cause
To begin to support or advocate for an issue.
Many celebrities take up the cause of environmental protection.
Cause for celebration
A reason to celebrate or be happy.
The team's victory was a cause for celebration.
Root cause
The fundamental reason for a problem.
Identifying the root cause is crucial for effective problem-solving.
Fight for a cause
To struggle or campaign for a particular goal.
He spent his life fighting for the cause of social justice.
Direct cause
The immediate reason something happened.
The direct cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
Cause Example Sentences
Many people joined the rally to support the environmental cause.
The cause of her happiness was the good news she received.
The investigation focused on finding the cause of the accident.
Drinking contaminated water can cause serious health issues.
The activists campaigned for the cause of human rights.
The sudden drop in temperature caused the pipes to freeze.
Heavy rainfall was the cause of the landslides in the region.
Identifying the cause of the problem is the first step towards solving it.
The charity works towards the cause of providing education to underprivileged children.
The community came together for the cause of rebuilding the park.
The cause of the blackout was found to be a faulty transformer.
She always stood up for the cause of gender equality.
Miscommunication often causes misunderstandings among team members.
The organization rallied behind the cause of mental health awareness.
The cause of his anger was the unfair treatment he experienced.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in cause?
Cause has one syllable.
How do we divide cause into syllables?
As a single-syllable word, "cause" is not divided.
What is the root word of cause?
The root word of "cause" is the Latin "causa," meaning reason or motive.
What is the verb form of cause?
"Cause" itself is the base form of the verb.
What is the first form of cause?
The first (base) form of the word is "cause."
What is the second form of cause?
The second form (past tense) of "cause" is "caused."
What is the singular form of cause?
The singular form is "cause."
Why is it called cause?
"Cause" comes from the Latin "causa," meaning a reason or motive, reflecting its use to denote the reason behind an effect or action.
How is cause used in a sentence?
"Cause" is used to denote the reason or factor that leads to a certain outcome, e.g., Poor diet can be a major cause of health problems.
What part of speech is cause?
"Cause" is both a noun and a verb, depending on its use in a sentence.
What is a stressed syllable in cause?
The entire word "cause" is stressed, as it consists of only one syllable.
What is the pronunciation of cause?
Cause is pronounced as /kɔːz/ or /kɑːz/ depending on the dialect.
What is the third form of cause?
The third form (past participle) of "cause" is also "caused."
What is the plural form of cause?
The plural form is "causes."
Is cause an adverb?
No, "cause" is not an adverb.
Is the word “cause” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Cause" can serve as a direct object, as in "They identified the cause of the problem," or be used without an object, as in "This action will cause a reaction."
Which vowel is used before cause?
The vowel used before "cause" depends on the preceding word or article, often "a" or "the."
Is cause a noun or adjective?
"Cause" is primarily used as a noun and a verb, not an adjective.
Is cause a vowel or consonant?
The word "cause" starts with a consonant sound.
Is cause a collective noun?
No, "cause" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is the word cause imperative?
"Cause" can be used in the imperative mood, as in "Cause no harm."
What is another term for cause?
Another term for "cause" could be "reason" as a noun, and "induce" or "provoke" as a verb.
What is the opposite of cause?
The opposite of "cause" could be "effect" when used as a noun, and "prevent" or "deter" when used as a verb.
Is cause a countable noun?
When used as a noun, "cause" can be countable, e.g., "There are several causes for my concern."
Which article is used with cause?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "cause" when it is a noun, e.g., "a cause for alarm" or "the cause of the issue."
Is cause a negative or positive word?
"Cause" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Which preposition is used with cause?
Prepositions like "of" or "for" are commonly used with "cause," as in "the cause of the problem" or "a cause for celebration."
Is cause an abstract noun?
When used as a noun, "cause" can be considered abstract as it refers to a concept or reason that is not physically tangible.
Is the cause term a metaphor?
"Cause" can be part of metaphorical expressions, but the word itself is not a metaphor.
Is the word cause Gerund?
The gerund form of "cause" is "causing."
Which determiner is used with cause?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "this" can be used with "cause" when it functions as a noun, e.g., "a cause for concern."
Which conjunction is used with cause?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used in sentences involving "cause," e.g., He studied hard, and it was the cause of his success.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Pour Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Lazy Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
