causing

cause  (kôz)

n.

1.

a. The producer of an effect, result, or consequence.

b. The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result.

2. A basis for an action or response; a reason: The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm.

3. A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal: "the cause of freedom versus tyranny" (Hannah Arendt).

4. The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle: "The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind" (Thomas Paine).

5. Law

a. A ground for legal action.

b. A lawsuit.

6. A subject under debate or discussion.

tr.v. caused, caus·ing, caus·es

1. To be the cause of or reason for; result in.

2. To bring about or compel by authority or force: The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin causa, reason, purpose.]

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causa·ble adj.

causeless adj.

causer n.

Synonyms: cause, reason, occasion, antecedent
These nouns denote what brings about or is associated with an effect or result. A cause is an agent or condition that permits the occurrence of an effect or leads to a result: "He is not only dull in himself, but the cause of dullness in others" (Samuel Foote).
Reason refers to what explains the occurrence or nature of an effect: There was no obvious reason for the accident.
Occasion is a situation that permits or stimulates existing causes to come into play: "The immediate occasion of his departure ... was the favorable opportunity ... of migrating in a pleasant way" (Thomas De Quincey).
Antecedent refers to what has gone before and implies a relationshipbut not necessarily a causal onewith what ensues: Some of the antecedents of World War II lie in economic conditions in Europe following World War I.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

causing - the act of causing something to happen causation human action, human activity, act, deed - something that people do or cause to happen sending - the act of causing something to go (especially messages) trigger, initiation, induction - an act that sets in motion some course of events coercion, compulsion - using force to cause something to occur; "though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game"; "they didn't have to use coercion" influence - causing something without any direct or apparent effort inducing, inducement - act of bringing about a desired result; "inducement of sleep"