result
A1 (Extremely high frequency)Neutral (Used across all registers from formal academic writing to casual conversation)
Definition
Meaning
Something that is caused or produced by an action, situation, or process; a consequence or outcome.
1) In mathematics/sciences: a value obtained from calculation or experiment. 2) In competitions/sports: the final score or outcome. 3) In computing: data produced by processing. 4) In law: a legal decision or judgment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both intended outcomes (experiment results) and unintended consequences (bad weather resulted in cancellation). Often implies a logical connection between cause and effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. Both use identically. Slight preference for 'result' over 'outcome' in UK sports reporting.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more formal in some business contexts. US: Slightly more neutral across contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties. No significant statistical variation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
result from (something)result in (something)as a result (of)with the result thatVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get results”
- “to no result”
- “a foregone result”
- “results speak for themselves”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Focus on measurable outcomes: 'The marketing campaign yielded excellent results.'
Academic
Objective findings: 'The results of the study support the hypothesis.'
Everyday
General outcomes: 'What was the result of your job interview?'
Technical
Specific outputs: 'The algorithm returns a result in milliseconds.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The poor planning resulted in massive delays.
- Such behaviour could result in dismissal.
American English
- The investigation resulted in several arrests.
- The merger will result in job losses.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as pure adverb; usually 'as a result')
American English
- (Rarely used as pure adverb; usually 'consequently' or 'therefore')
adjective
British English
- The result sheet will be published tomorrow.
- We need a result-oriented approach.
American English
- The result page shows your score.
- She's very result-driven in her work.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The test result was good.
- What is the result of 5+5?
- The football match ended with a surprising result.
- His illness resulted from poor diet.
- The negotiations resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement.
- We are still awaiting the laboratory results.
- The policy had the unintended result of increasing inequality.
- The data was subjected to multivariate analysis, and the results were inconclusive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RESULT = REason + SoLUTion. The reason leads to a solution (result).
Conceptual Metaphor
RESULTS ARE PRODUCTS (manufacturing), RESULTS ARE FINISH LINES (racing), RESULTS ARE ANSWERS (quizzes)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'результат' when meaning 'consequence' (use 'последствие'). Don't use 'result' for 'итог' in abstract summations (use 'sum total').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'result to' instead of 'result in' or 'result from'. Pluralizing unnecessarily ('results' often preferred). Confusing 'result' with 'reason'.
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition correctly follows 'result' to mean 'be caused by'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily countable ('three results'), but can be uncountable in abstract senses ('without result').
'Result' is more neutral and factual; 'outcome' often implies a narrative or process leading to an end point.
Yes, but only intransitively with 'in' or 'from'. You cannot 'result something' (transitive).
Often considered redundant in formal writing, but widely accepted in speech for emphasis.