# outcome

/ˈaʊtˌkəm/ (US) · /ˈaʊtkʌm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outcome
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a result

noun · CEFR B2 · General-service

the final result or effect of something that has happened.

For teachers: the end result or consequence of an event, process, or series of actions.

- The outcome of the election was a surprise to everyone in the country.
- Economists are closely monitoring the situation, though the final outcome of the trade negotiations remains highly uncertain.

### 2. learning goals

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the specific things a student is expected to know or do after a course.

For teachers: the anticipated or desired results of a learning experience, often used to measure educational effectiveness.

- The teacher explained the learning outcomes at the start of the lesson.
- The university redesigned the curriculum to ensure that every module aligned with the core professional outcomes required by the industry.

### 3. probability

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

one of the possible results of a test or experiment.

For teachers: a possible result of a random trial or experiment within a sample space.

- When you flip a coin, there are only two possible outcomes.
- The researcher calculated the probability of each individual outcome before proceeding with the large-scale clinical trial.

### 4. sports score

noun · CEFR B2

the final score or result of a game.

For teachers: the final scoreline or definitive result of a sporting competition.

- The outcome of the match was a draw, so they had to play again.
- Despite a strong start by the home team, the eventual outcome of the tournament was decided by a single penalty in the final minutes.

## Examples

- We are still waiting to hear the final outcome of the election.
- The outcome of the clinical trial will determine whether the drug receives government approval for public use.
- While the immediate outcome of the negotiations was a ceasefire, the underlying tensions remained unresolved, casting doubt on the long-term stability of the region.

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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.