cause
C1 (Very High Frequency)Neutral (used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
The person, thing, or event that makes something happen; the reason something exists or occurs.
A principle, ideal, goal, or movement that a person or group supports and fights for.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, primarily means (1) reason/maker of an event or (2) principle/movement. As a verb, means to make something happen. The verb usage is more formal than synonymous 'make' or 'lead to'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar identical. Legal term 'proximate cause' is identical in both jurisdictions.
Connotations
Identical. The noun 'cause' (as in a movement) can carry positive (charitable cause) or negative (lost cause) connotations equally in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties. The phrase 'cause and effect' is slightly more frequent in AmE academic texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cause + noun (cause an accident)cause + noun + to-infinitive (cause the system to fail)cause + object + for + noun (cause trouble for someone)be caused by + noun (was caused by negligence)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a lost cause”
- “make common cause with”
- “for a good cause”
- “cause célèbre”
- “give cause for”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in root cause analysis, problem-solving reports (e.g., 'identify the root cause of the delay').
Academic
Central to scientific and historical discourse explaining causality (e.g., 'the cause of the species' extinction').
Everyday
Common for explaining reasons (e.g., 'What was the cause of the argument?') and supporting charities (e.g., 'donate to a good cause').
Technical
In law: 'proximate cause'; in medicine: 'aetiology/cause of disease'; in philosophy: 'causal relationship'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The investigation found the cause of the fire.
- She donated generously to the wildlife cause.
- There is no cause for alarm at this stage.
American English
- Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer.
- They are raising money for a worthy cause.
- The lawyer argued there was probable cause for the search.
verb
British English
- Heavy rain is likely to cause travel disruption.
- The new policy could cause quite a stir.
- What caused the pavement to crack?
American English
- The software bug caused the system to crash.
- Loud noises can cause hearing damage.
- Her resignation caused a major reorganization.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cold weather was the cause of my flu.
- He gave his money to a good cause.
- What caused the noise?
- Scientists are trying to identify the root cause of the problem.
- The charity supports the cause of protecting endangered animals.
- A sudden power cut caused all the computers to shut down.
- The report concluded that human error was the proximate cause of the accident.
- She has dedicated her life to the cause of social justice.
- The new tax is likely to cause significant hardship for low-income families.
- Establishing a causal link between the two variables proved difficult.
- The campaign made common cause with other environmental groups.
- His inflammatory remarks were calculated to cause maximum offence to his opponents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CAUSE' as 'CAUSing' something to happen. It's the 'Because' (be-CAUSE) something occurs.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAUSE IS A FORCE (The storm caused havoc). A PRINCIPLE IS A DESTINATION (He fights for the cause).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating Russian 'повод' as 'cause' – use 'reason' or 'occasion'.
- The noun 'cause' (движение) is broader than Russian 'цель' (goal) – it includes the movement itself.
- The verb 'cause' is more formal than Russian 'вызывать' in everyday contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cause' as a conjunction in formal writing (use 'because').
- Confusing 'cause' with 'reason' ('cause' is the agent, 'reason' is the explanation).
- Using 'cause of' for positive emotions – 'cause for celebration' is correct, but 'cause of joy' is less natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cause' used to mean 'a principle or movement to be advanced'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'cause' is what directly produces an effect (the lightning caused the fire). A 'reason' is the explanation or justification for an action or belief (the reason for his anger was the insult).
No. ''Cause' (with an apostrophe) is an informal, spoken contraction of 'because' and is not appropriate for formal writing. In writing, always use the full word 'because'.
Yes. It is countable when referring to specific reasons or movements (investigating several causes, supporting various causes). It is uncountable in the abstract sense of justification (You have no cause to complain).
An idiom meaning a person, thing, or goal that is certain to fail and not worth further effort or support (e.g., 'Trying to convince him is a lost cause').
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