I. be ‧ cause 1 S1 W1 /bɪˈkɒz, bɪˈkəz $ bɪˈkɒːz, bɪˈkəz/ BrE AmE conjunction
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: by cause (that) ]
1 . used when you are giving the reason for something:
We didn’t enjoy the day because the weather was so awful.
‘Why can’t I go?’ ‘Because you’re not old enough.’
Hubert never experienced any fear, and this was partly because he was not particularly intelligent.
Many exam candidates lose marks simply because they do not read the questions properly.
I decided to go with them, mainly because I had nothing better to do.
2 . just because ... spoken used to say that, although one thing is true, it does not mean that something else is true:
Just because you’re my brother doesn’t mean I have to like you!
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THESAURUS
▪ because conjunction used when giving the reason for something:
I went home because I was tired.
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The streets were flooded because of all the rain.
▪ due to/owing to preposition used to give the reason why something has happened. Due to and owing to are more formal than because :
The delay was due to a problem with the ship’s engines.
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The parade had to be cancelled owing to bad weather.
▪ through preposition because of something. Through is used especially when saying why someone succeeded or failed to do something:
They won the game, more through luck than skill.
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You failed that test through carelessness.
▪ thanks to preposition used when explaining that something good has happened because of someone’s efforts, or because something exists:
Thanks to modern medicine, the disease can now be cured.
▪ since/as conjunction used when giving the reason why someone decides to do something or decides that something is true:
We decided to go to the beach since it was a nice day.
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I thought Kevin was out as his car wasn’t there.
▪ out of preposition because of a particular feeling or quality:
He started reading the book out of curiosity.
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I only asked out of politeness.
II. because 2 S1 W1 BrE AmE preposition
because of somebody/something used to say who or what causes something to happen or is the reason for something:
He had to retire because of ill health.
We spent three hours waiting in the rain because of you!
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In written English, people often prefer to use the expressions due to something, owing to something, or as a result of something, which sound more formal than because of something:
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Many businesses fail due to cash-flow problems.