cause

cause — noun

1. a person, thing, or event that makes something else happen — especially when the

1.nounB2
Definition

a person, thing, or event that makes something else happen — especially when the result is unwanted or harmful.

Example

The heavy rain was the main cause of the flooding in the village.

cause of [something] — identifying what makes something happen

Doctors are still trying to find the cause of her illness.

Common collocations
  • cause of death
  • root cause
  • probable cause
  • underlying cause
  • direct cause
Synonyms
  • reason

    broader and more neutral; 'reason' can be an explanation, while 'cause' implies a direct link to the result

  • source

    focuses on origin rather than causal mechanism

  • root

    often used figuratively for underlying or original cause

Antonyms
  • effect

    the result, not the source

  • result

    what follows, not what produces

Grammar Patterns

cause of [something]

cause for [feeling]

Usage Note

Use 'cause of' followed by the result (e.g. cause of the delay), not 'cause for' which belongs to sense 2. Frequently used with definite determiners (the cause, a cause).

Common Mistakes

The cause for the accident was bad weather.
The cause of the accident was bad weather.
'cause of + result' is the pattern; 'cause for' marks a different sense (reason for a feeling).

2. a good or acceptable reason for having a particular emotion or for acting in a c

2.nounC2
Definition

a good or acceptable reason for having a particular emotion or for acting in a certain way.

Example

The new policy gave the staff no cause for concern.

cause for [concern/worry] — typical noun after 'for'

Leila's excellent exam results were a cause for celebration.

Common collocations
  • cause for concern
  • cause for alarm
  • just cause
  • good cause
  • no cause
  • without cause
Synonyms
  • grounds

    more formal and often legal; 'grounds for complaint'

  • justification

    stronger, implies a moral or logical basis

  • reason

    general and less formal; 'reason' works in most contexts

Grammar Patterns

cause for [noun]

cause to [verb]

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is uncountable and takes 'cause for' (not 'cause of'). Common in fixed phrases: 'just cause', 'without cause', 'good cause'. Typical objects are feelings: concern, alarm, complaint, celebration.

Common Mistakes

There is no cause of worry.
There is no cause for worry.
sense 2 takes 'for' before an emotion noun.

3. an idea, goal, or set of principles that people believe in and work actively to

3.nounC1
Definition

an idea, goal, or set of principles that people believe in and work actively to uphold, especially when they see it as morally important.

Example

Aiko has devoted her life to the cause of environmental protection.

the cause of [principle] — identifying the movement

Donations from around the world poured in to support the cause.

Common collocations
  • good cause
  • worthy cause
  • noble cause
  • lost cause
  • support a cause
  • fight for a cause
  • join the cause
  • serve the cause
Synonyms
  • movement

    broader — a movement involves organized activity, while 'cause' focuses on the belief

  • campaign

    implies a specific plan and timeframe; 'cause' suggests a longer-term principle

  • mission

    more personal or religious in tone

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] cause

in the cause of [something]

fight for a cause

Usage Note

Often modified by adjectives that add moral weight: 'good cause', 'worthy cause', 'noble cause'. The collocation 'lost cause' (a hopeless effort) is a fixed idiom. This sense is followed by 'of' when specifying the goal (the cause of justice).

4. a legal case put before a judge, or the basis on which someone initiates a legal

4.nounC1
Definition

a legal case put before a judge, or the basis on which someone initiates a legal proceeding.

Example

The judge will hear the cause in the high court next Monday.

hear a cause — fixed verb collocation in legal context

The lawyer prepared the cause carefully before presenting it to the jury.

Common collocations
  • cause of action
  • hear a cause
  • plead a cause
  • dismiss a cause
Synonyms
  • case

    the everyday term; 'cause' is more formal and specific to legal procedure

  • lawsuit

    specifically a civil legal action brought by one party against another

  • action

    formal legal term for a proceeding in court

Usage Note

Restricted to legal contexts. Not a synonym for the everyday word 'case' — use 'cause' only when a formal legal proceeding is implied. In modern usage, 'cause of action' is more common than 'cause' alone.

Common Mistakes

I have a cause against my neighbour over the fence.
I have a case against my neighbour over the fence.
'cause' as a legal term is more formal; 'case' is the everyday word.
Idioms

cause and effect

idiom

the relationship between events where one thing directly produces another.

In science class, the teacher asked the students to think about cause and effect when they observed each experiment.

be in a good cause / be for a good cause

idiom

to be something that supports a morally worthy aim, making the effort or expense feel justified.

Diego paid five times the normal price for the painting, but it was for a good cause.

make common cause with

idiom

to join forces and cooperate with someone toward a shared goal despite previous differences.

The two rival companies decided to make common cause with each other against the foreign competitor.

in the cause of

idiom

in order to achieve or defend a particular principle or aim.

Scientists worked around the clock in the cause of finding a cure for the disease.

be for/in a good cause

idiom

This means that an activity or event is done to help others, so it is morally worthwhile.

Sara donated her old clothes to the charity, knowing it was for a good cause.

The bake sale took hours to prepare, but it was all in a good cause.

in the cause of something

idiom

This means doing something to support or defend a particular principle or goal.

Diego volunteered his time in the cause of environmental protection.

Many soldiers fought bravely in the cause of peace.

make common cause with somebody

idiom

This means to join together with someone because you share the same beliefs or goals.

The two political parties made common cause with each other to pass the new law.

Local businesses made common cause with the school to improve the playground.

cause — verb

cause — conjunction

Word family

  • causal
    adjectiveC1
  • causality
    nounC2
  • causation
    nounC2
  • causative
    adjectiveC2
  • because
    conjunctionA1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to what makes something happen or where something comes from, but they differ in focus. 'Cause' is the strongest — it names the direct producer of an effect (The cause of the fire was a faulty wire). 'Reason' is broader and more subjective: a reason can be an explanation or justification, not necessarily the thing that physically triggered the event (Her reason for quitting was stress). 'Source' points to the origin or starting point, often physical or geographical (The source of the river; a source of income). 'Origin' goes furthest back in time — it refers to where something first began (The origin of the tradition is unknown). For a concrete, direct relationship between events, use 'cause'. For an explanation or motive, use 'reason'. For tracing something back to its beginning, use 'source' or 'origin'.

cause ↗reason ↗source ↗origin ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • directly cause
  • likely cause
  • ultimately cause
  • actually cause

Phrases

  • root cause
  • probable cause
  • good cause
  • lost cause
  • just cause
  • cause of action

Prepositions

  • cause of
  • cause for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'cause' entered English through Old French 'cause' from Latin 'causa', which meant a reason, purpose, or legal case. In Latin, 'causa' was a broad term covering both the idea of something producing an effect and the grounds for a legal dispute. By the 13th century, English had adopted it in both the 'reason for an event' and 'legal case' senses. The shortened conjunction use ('cause for 'because') appeared in informal writing by the 19th century as a natural abbreviation in casual speech.