- a result or effect of some previous occurrence
- an unpleasant result (esp in the phrase take the consequences)
- significance or importance: it's of no consequence, a work of consequence
- a conclusion reached by reasoning
- in consequence ⇒ as a result
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•se•quence /ˈkɑnsɪˌkwɛns, -kwəns/USA pronunciation
n.
See -seq-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier:[countable]What will be the consequences of threatening him with military intervention?
- [uncountable] importance or significance: a matter of no consequence.
- Idioms in consequence, [uncountable] consequently;
as a result;
therefore:In consequence, you'll have to be careful. - take the consequences, to suffer something unpleasant as a result of some other action, event, etc.:If you don't pay your bills you'll have to take the consequences.
See -seq-.
con•se•quence
(kon′si kwens′, -kwəns),USA pronunciation n.
- the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier:The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
- an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
- the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning;
inference. - importance or significance:a matter of no consequence.
- importance in rank or position;
distinction:a man of great consequence in art. - Idioms in consequence, consequently;
as a result;
hence:He withdrew from the world, and in consequence was forgotten. - Idioms in consequence of, as a result of;
on account of:A trial was held in consequence of the investigation.
- Latin consequentia. See consequent, -ence
- Anglo-French)
- Middle English (1350–1400
- 1. outcome, issue, upshot, sequel. See effect. 4. moment, weight. See importance.
- 1. cause.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ n
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'consequence' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
account
- and
- arise
- attend
- automatic
- bring
- complication
- connote
- consecutive
- consequential
- corollary
- coronary thrombosis
- cosmic string
- course
- derivation
- devil
- ensue
- ensuing
- entail
- fit
- follow
- forfeit
- French paradox
- fruit
- grand
- gravity
- great
- iatrogenic
- imply
- important
- in
- incandescence
- inconsequential
- indirect
- infer
- issue
- light
- material
- matter
- necessarily
- null
- one
- outcome
- outgrowth
- pay off
- product
- prominence
- reflect
- repercussion
- affect
