cause

SayKAWZ/kɔz/UK/kɔːz/

Verbcauses, causing, caused

Noun pluralcauses

9 meanings of cause

Practice

1
make happenverbtransitive
To make something happen or come into being, either directly or by ordering or arranging it.
The new policy caused widespread confusion among employees.
Smoking can cause serious damage to the lungs.
UsageMostly with unwelcome results: cause damage, cause problems. With a person: cause someone to do something.
Similarcreate, produce, provoke, trigger, generate
Oppositeprevent
2
sourcenouncountablewith of
The source of or reason for an event or action; the thing that produces a result.
Investigators identified a faulty heater as the cause of the blaze.
Doctors say stress is a common cause of headaches and poor sleep.
UsageUsually the cause of a problem: the cause of the fire. Its natural partner is effect.
Similarsource, origin, root, reason
Oppositeeffect
3
goal people supportnouncountable
A goal, aim, or principle that someone supports, especially one that goes beyond purely selfish interests.
Thousands marched for the cause of equal rights.
He devoted his life to humanitarian causes around the world.
UsageCommon in a good cause, for the cause, the cause of equal rights.
Similargoal, aim, purpose, objective, object
4
sinceconjunctioncolloquial
Alternative form of 'cause. Because, in an informal shortened form.
She didn't answer cause she was already asleep.
They canceled the trip cause the roads were closed.
UsageSpell out because in careful writing; this short form belongs to speech and dialogue.
Note
A clipped because that has dropped its first syllable, an aphetic form. The fuller spelling 'cause uses an apostrophe to mark the loss; this one leaves the apostrophe out.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
The conjunction is a shortened form of because with its initial syllable removed. en.wiktionary.org
Aphetic can describe a form that has lost its initial syllable. en.wiktionary.org
The apostrophe in 'cause represents the omitted be of because. downloads.bbc.co.uk
Cause without an apostrophe is an alternative spelling of 'cause. en.wiktionary.org
5
good reasonnoununcountable
Sufficient reason for an action, belief, or feeling.
The committee found no cause to dismiss the complaint.
Her behavior gave them cause for concern.
UsageCause for + noun: no cause for alarm; cause to + verb: no cause to worry.
Similarjustification, grounds, occasion
Note
The contrast with the "source" meaning is worth hearing. No cause for alarm means nothing justifies alarm, not that nothing produced it.

Less common meanings

6
lawsuitnouncountable
A suit or legal action in court; the process by which a party seeks to obtain a claim or asserted right.
Having reviewed the record, the appeals court reversed the judgment and remanded the cause for a new trial.
Motions in pending causes must be filed with the clerk at least ten days before the hearing.
Similarcase, lawsuit, suit, action
Note
The courtroom word, close to case and suit. It covers both the proceeding itself and its ground of action, meaning the claim a party believes is theirs by right. That double reach lets a lawyer speak of a cause being heard and also of a client's cause of action. The legal flavor is old: the word's doublet chose survives in law as a term for a thing owned.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
The legal use of cause is old. gutenberg.org
Cause and chose are etymological doublets. en.wiktionary.org
Chose survives as a legal term for a thing or personal property. en.wiktionary.org
7
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
Sake, interest, or advantage; the benefit of a person or group.
I did it not for his cause.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
Note
An older overlap with sake that modern English has lost. The King James Bible of 1611 has "I did it not for his cause," where a reader today would say for his sake. In older texts, for his cause should be read this way. It does not mean support for a campaign, as in the "principle" meaning. In modern writing, sake, interest or benefit does the job.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 4 facts
Cause formerly meant sake, interest or advantage. en.wiktionary.org
The King James Bible was first published in 1611. neh.gov
The quoted wording occurs in the King James Bible, at 2 Corinthians 7:12. en.wikisource.org
The biblical quotation illustrates cause meaning sake, rather than a campaign or principle. en.wiktionary.org
8
nounobsoletecountable
A subject of discussion or debate; a matter or affair brought up for consideration.
What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt,”
Note
A plain "matter" or "business," now gone from ordinary speech. In Shakespeare's Second Part of Henry the Sixth, "What counsel give you in this weighty cause?" asks for advice on a serious affair. A modern ear tends to hear a lawsuit or a crusade in the line, and neither is meant. Today, matter, issue or affair carries this sense.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
Cause formerly meant a matter or affair. en.wiktionary.org
The quotation occurs in Shakespeare's Second Part of Henry the Sixth; the Cardinal speaks it in Act 3, scene 1. folger.edu
The line requests advice about a serious affair, specifically rebellion in Ireland, rather than a lawsuit or crusade. folger.edu
9
verbobsolete
To assign or show a reason for something; to offer an excuse for one's conduct.
He, to shifte their curious request, / Gan causen why she could not come in place.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
Note
A verb of explaining rather than producing, and long out of use. Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590) has "Gan causen why she could not come in place," that is, began to give the reason why. The idea survives in the phrase show cause, but the verb itself no longer works this way. A modern writer should say give a reason or make an excuse.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 6 facts
Cause historically meant to explain or give a reason. en.wiktionary.org
Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene. en.wikipedia.org
The first publication of Books I–III, including the quoted passage, was in 1590. en.wikisource.org
The quoted wording occurs in Book III, Canto IX, stanza 26, with different punctuation. talus.artsci.wustl.edu
Gan means began, supporting the explanation of gan causen as began to give the reason. en.wiktionary.org
Show cause retains the idea of providing an explanation or justification. en.wikipedia.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of cause apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

English borrowed "cause" from Old French "cause," which came from Latin "causa" (reason, sake, cause). The Latin word traces back to Proto-Italic *kaussā, whose ultimate origin is unknown. It is a doublet of "chose" and is related to "accuse," "excuse," and "recuse."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 8 facts

English borrowed cause from Old French cause. en.wiktionary.org
Old French cause came from Latin causa. en.wiktionary.org
Latin causa has the meanings reason, sake, and cause. en.wiktionary.org
Latin causa derives from Proto-Italic *kaussā, whose further origin is unknown. en.wiktionary.org
Cause is a doublet of the English noun chose. en.wiktionary.org
Cause is etymologically related to accuse. en.wiktionary.org
Excuse derives ultimately from Latin causa and is therefore related to cause. en.wiktionary.org
Recuse derives ultimately from Latin causa and is therefore related to cause. en.wiktionary.org