Meaning & use
result
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Meanings
nouncountable
Something that comes about because of an earlier action, event or condition.
Grammar: Countable, and often in the phrase as a result: the result of the delay.
Patterns
- the result of something
- as a result
- as a result of something
The flood was the result of three days of heavy rain.
He missed the bus and, as a result, arrived late.
The new policy had some unexpected results.
nouncountable
The final score, mark or decision in a contest, test or election.
Grammar: Often plural for exams and tests: exam results.
Patterns
- the result of the match
- exam results
- election results
The final result was a two-two draw.
Her exam results arrived by email on Thursday.
We will announce the election result tonight.
nounusually pluraltechnical
Information or a measurement you get from a test, study or calculation.
Grammar: Usually plural in science and medicine: test results.
Patterns
- the results of a test
- get results
The lab results showed no sign of infection.
The experiment produced surprising results.
The search engine displayed over a thousand results.
verbintransitiveformal
To happen as a consequence of something, often followed by from.
Grammar: No object: the problem resulted from poor planning.
Patterns
- result from something
- result in something
Many accidents result from tiredness.
The stress resulting from the move made her ill.
Delays resulted when the signals failed.
verbintransitiveformal
To lead to a particular outcome, often followed by in.
Grammar: No object, with in before the outcome: the crash resulted in delays.
Patterns
- result in something
The strike resulted in the closure of three factories.
Careless driving can result in a heavy fine.
The meeting resulted in a clear plan.
Word forms
| plural | results |
|---|---|
| third person singular | results |
| past tense | resulted |
| past participle | resulted |
| -ing form | resulting |
Common combinations
- as a result
- It rained all day; as a result, the picnic was canceled.
- the end result
- The end result was a much calmer office.
- get results
- A short daily routine can get real results.
- result in
- Skipping the safety check could result in injury.
- result from
- The error resulted from a typing mistake.
- disappointing result
- The team was upset by the disappointing result.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outcome
- Outcome often points to how a situation finally ends, while result can be any effect, even an early one.
- consequence
- Consequence is usually a bad or serious effect, so it is more negative than neutral result.
- effect
- Effect focuses on the change produced on something, while result also names the final score or finding.
- upshot
- Upshot is informal and means the final practical conclusion of a discussion or events.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: result or result from / result in?
result vs result from / result in
Result from names the cause, as in the fire resulted from a spark. Result in names the effect, as in the spark resulted in a fire.
Practice
The long delay at the airport ____ from a computer failure at the control tower.
Choose one answer.
Result from points back to the cause, and the computer failure is the cause. Result in would reverse the relationship, and of or by are not used with this verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “result”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.