con ‧ se ‧ quence S3 W2 AC /ˈkɒnsəkwəns, ˈkɒnsɪkwəns $ ˈkɑːnsə-kwens/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adverb : ↑ consequently , ↑ inconsequentially ; adjective : ↑ consequent , ↑ consequential ≠ ↑ inconsequential ; noun : ↑ consequence ]
1 . [countable] something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions
consequence of
Many believe that poverty is a direct consequence of overpopulation.
consequence for
Our findings have far-reaching consequences for researchers.
with ... consequences
He ate some poisonous mushrooms, with fatal consequences.
2 . as a consequence (of something)/in consequence (of something) formal as a result of something:
Animals have died as a consequence of coming into contact with this chemical.
She was over the age limit and, in consequence, her application was rejected.
3 . of little/no/any etc consequence formal not very important or valuable
of little/no/any etc consequence to
Your opinion is of little consequence to me.
I don’t suppose it is of any consequence now.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ be a consequence of something
Low energy may be a consequence of sleeping badly.
▪ have consequences
Taking financial risks can have serious consequences.
▪ accept/take the consequences (=understand and deal with them)
I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my decision.
▪ face/suffer the consequences (=accept the bad results of something you have done)
He broke the law, and he will have to face the consequences.
▪ consequences follow (=happen)
Once the decision has been made, consequences follow.
▪ consider the consequences (=think what might happen as a result of something)
She jumped into the river without considering the consequences.
▪ escape the consequences (=avoid them)
I knew I’d made a mistake and that I couldn’t escape the consequences.
■ adjectives
▪ the possible/likely consequences
What are the likely consequences of these changes?
▪ an inevitable consequence (=that you cannot avoid)
Loss of mobility is not an inevitable consequence of old age.
▪ serious consequences (=bad and important)
Too much fishing in these seas has had serious consequences.
▪ disastrous/dire consequences (=very bad and damaging)
If temperatures continue to rise, it could have disastrous consequences for agriculture.
▪ an important consequence
This discovery was an important consequence of his research.
▪ social/political/economic consequences
The rise in food prices has had enormous economic and political consequences.
▪ a direct consequence of something (=a consequence directly caused by something)
The spread of information has been a direct consequence of the Internet.
▪ a natural/logical consequence (=that naturally/logically follows something)
Obviously disappointment is a natural consequence of defeat.
▪ a negative consequence (=a bad or unpleasant result)
the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol
▪ an adverse/unfortunate consequence (=that affects your life, a situation etc badly)
Divorce often has unfortunate consequences for children.
▪ tragic consequences (=very sad, usually involving death)
Someone dropped a burning cigarette, with tragic consequences.
▪ far-reaching consequences (=important and affecting many things)
The new law is sure to have far-reaching consequences.
▪ long-term consequences (=results that last a long time, or appear after a long time)
If you smoke it may have long-term consequences.
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THESAURUS
▪ result something that happens because of something else:
The fire at the house was the result of a dropped cigarette.
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Many people find that herbal remedies produce a good result.
▪ consequence something important that happens as the result of a decision or action:
Global warming will have serious consequences for the environment.
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Rising prices are the inevitable consequence of the grain shortage.
▪ repercussions the bad effects that happen later as a result of an event, often a long time afterwards:
The economic crisis in the US is likely to have serious repercussions for the rest of the world.
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The scandal could have major repercussions for his career.
▪ outcome the final result of a meeting, election, war etc:
The final outcome of the election remained in doubt for several days.
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So, what is the likely outcome for Spain?
▪ the upshot the final result of a situation, especially when this was unexpected:
The upshot of all this was that the trial had to be delayed.
▪ the fruits of something literary the things that have been achieved as a result of someone’s efforts – used especially in the following phrases:
He did not live to see the fruits of his labours.
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They can now enjoy the fruits of their success.