result
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
idioms
noun
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something that ensues from an action, policy, course of events, etc; outcome; consequence
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a number, quantity, or value obtained by solving a mathematical problem
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a decision of a legislative body
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(often plural) the final score or outcome of a sporting contest
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a favourable result, esp a victory or success
verb
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(often foll by from) to be the outcome or consequence (of)
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(foll by in) to issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc); end
to result in tragedy
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property law (of an undisposed or partially disposed of interest in land) to revert to a former owner when the prior interests come to an end
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resultsimple
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resultssimple
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have resultedperfect
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has resultedperfect
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am resultingprogressive
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are resultingprogressive
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is resultingprogressive
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have been resultingperfect progressive
-
has been resultingperfect progressive
Past
-
resultedsimple
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had resultedperfect
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was resultingprogressive
-
were resultingprogressive
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had been resultingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of result
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English resulten (verb) from Anglo-Latin resultāre “to arise as a consequence” ( Latin: “to spring back, rebound”), equivalent to re- re- + -sultāre, combining form of saltāre “to dance” (frequentative of salīre “to leap, spring”)
Explanation
A result is something that occurs as a consequence of some action. The result of your practical joke is a puddle of water on the floor and a lump on your cousin's head where the bucket hit him. A result is also the answer to some problem, especially one obtained by calculation or experimentation. The result you get for a math problem will be wrong if you add when you should multiply. The verb result means to follow as an outcome of some action. If you forget to book a room in advance, it will result in your having to stay at the hotel by the airport instead of one by the beach.
Vocabulary lists containing result
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Word Generation Science - Scientific Thinking
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With a 7% annual investment return, investing a $1,600 benefit starting at age 62 could result in a total of $80,000 or more by age 67.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Some planning experts argue that slow construction is the result of nonregulatory complications, such as skill shortages, high material costs from postpandemic inflation and supply-chain shortages and higher interest rates that make financing more difficult.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
As a result, Roberts said, the Dodgers do not believe shutting down Ohtani as a hitter for a few days would help ease the discomfort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
As a result, the United States Secret Service took over security for the game - leading to long waits for supporters to get into the ground.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Given Franklin’s reputation as an explorer and the nature of his two ships, many expected this would be the Passage-search that would achieve the long-awaited glorious result.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Greenebaum said for this reporting period, the added 43 basis points measured in the month before JPMorgan posted results was about half the average recorded in the past 36 years.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
But global development has also been hampered due to the irregularity of research results.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The agency now deems the detection that it reported Saturday a false positive after laboratory experts reviewed the sample results.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
“I think everyone’s pleased with the results of the series,” Phillips said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
We were struggling too, and if my results were bad, then going might be a better option than staying here and farming.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Poor discipline was a major factor in the four-match losing run that resulted in a fifth-placed finish in the Six Nations and Borthwick's position as head coach coming under scrutiny.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Part of his strategy was to install gas turbines on-site for power generation, a move that resulted in a lawsuit alleging the company flouted environmental rules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Between 2014 and 2023, 75 crashes on this stretch of Pico resulted in severe injury or death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
MarketWatch previously reported comments about tokenization on a Brian Chesky social-media account that now appear to have resulted from a hack.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
She might spend weeks calculating a pressure distribution without knowing what kind of plane was being tested or whether the analysis that depended on her math had resulted in significant conclusions.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
HBM producers have diverted their efforts toward fulfilling lucrative data-center contracts, resulting in increasing component costs for consumer products.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
The resulting maps traced gas motion deep within the black hole's sphere of influence.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
The closures were an attempt to roll back an overexpansion in the wrong markets, resulting in a loss in 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Mr. Netanyahu has directed Israel’s diplomacy for 16 of the past 17 years, resulting in many formal and informal alignments with nations that had long been among Israel’s sworn enemies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
S/he begins to have abnormal difficulty in concentrating or suddenly becomes hyper-focused on tasks, resulting in s/he losing track of time and/or neglecting him/herself or others.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.