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Meaning & use

causing

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈkɔːzɪŋ/
US/ˈkɑːzɪŋ/

“causing” is a form of “cause”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Making something happen, especially something unwelcome, by being its source or reason.

    Grammar: Needs an object: causing delays, not just causing.

    Patterns

    • causing something
    • causing someone something
    • causing someone to do something

    Heavy snow is causing long delays on the northern railway lines.

    The noisy construction site is causing the neighbors a lot of stress.

    A loose wire may be causing the lights to flicker.

  2. verbtransitive

    Being the reason that someone feels or experiences a particular thing, such as trouble, worry or pain.

    Grammar: Often takes two objects: causing her worry means causing worry to her.

    Patterns

    • causing someone trouble
    • causing someone pain

    My knee has been causing me pain since the marathon.

    I am sorry for causing you so much trouble this week.

    Her silence was causing her parents real concern.

Word forms

base formcause
third person singularcauses
past tensecaused

Common combinations

causing damage
The storm is causing damage to roofs across the coast.
causing confusion
The new road signs are causing confusion among drivers.
causing problems
The old printer keeps causing problems for the whole office.
causing harm
Dumping waste in the river is causing serious harm to wildlife.
without causing offense
She found a way to say no without causing offense.
causing a stir
His unusual hat was causing a stir in the village.

Synonyms and how they differ

producing
Producing is neutral and can describe good or bad results, while causing usually points to something negative.
triggering
Triggering stresses a quick start to a chain of events, whereas causing only says that something led to the result.
provoking
Provoking is narrower, since it mostly describes drawing out a reaction such as anger or laughter.
bringing about
Bringing about is more formal and fits larger changes, while causing suits everyday events.

Opposites

preventingstopping

Word family

cause noun
the thing that makes something happen
cause verb
to make something happen
causal adjective
relating to a cause and its effect
causation noun
the link between a cause and its result
causative adjective
acting as the cause of something

Commonly confused: causing or because?

causing vs because

Because is a conjunction that introduces a reason, as in 'it broke because it was old'; causing is a verb form that needs an object.

Practice

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: 'The leaking pipe is ___ water damage in the basement.'

Make it your own

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