outcome
OUT-kum
/ˈaʊtkʌm/
The way a thing turns out; a consequence.
A neutral, factual term for the final result of a process or event.
The story behind the word. A straightforward compound from Middle English, 'outcome' literally describes what 'comes out' at the end of an event. It gained popularity in the 19th century as a more formal alternative to 'result.'
Word relationships
- result: Outcome often refers to the final stage of a complex process, while result is more general.
- cause: A cause is the origin, while the outcome is the end.
Commonly confused with
- output: Output refers to the amount produced; outcome refers to the effect or result.
Collocations
- successful outcome
- uncertain outcome
- predict the outcome
Idioms & expressions
- wait for the outcome
Example sentences
- "The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before." Research
- "The outcome of the game remained in doubt until the final whistle." Sports
Memory hook
Think of what 'comes out' of a machine after you put in the work. What comes out is the outcome.
When not to use
Avoid in highly poetic contexts where 'destiny' or 'doom' would be more appropriate.
Fun facts
- In statistics, an outcome is a possible result of an experiment.
Related words
Explore more words
consequence, output, effect, objectivity, incident, objective
Also appears in
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