# ensue

/ɪnˈsu/ (US) · /ɛnsjˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ensue
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to happen as a result

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to happen after another event, especially because of it.

For teachers: to occur afterward as a direct consequence or result of a preceding event.

- After the two cars crashed, a loud argument ensued between the drivers.
- When the government announced the new tax, widespread protests ensued across the capital, leading to a week of civil unrest.

Usage: This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object; you cannot 'ensue something'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'follow'. While 'follow' can be physical or temporal, 'ensue' almost always implies a logical or causal connection between the two events.

## Examples

- A long silence followed, and then a loud argument ensued.
- After the referee made the controversial decision, a heated debate ensued between the two coaches.
- The sudden collapse of the regional bank caused widespread panic, and a series of emergency meetings ensued as government officials scrambled to prevent a total market failure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.