English Reference
noun · verb

result

n. · v.
US /ɹiˈzəɫt/ UK /ɹɪzˈʌlt/ re·sult UK spelling resulted, results

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    n.something that happens because of an earlier action or situation.

    n.a consequence, effect, or outcome arising from a specific cause or set of circumstances.

    Simple

    The traffic jam was a result of the heavy rain this morning.

    In context

    The sudden increase in sales was a direct result of the aggressive marketing campaign launched last quarter.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary Sport

    n.the final score in a game or the grade you get on an exam.

    n.the final score of a sporting contest or the documented grade from an examination.

    Simple

    I am waiting for my exam results to arrive in the mail.

    In context

    The final result of the match was a draw, leaving both teams tied at the top of the league table.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    n.a successful or positive outcome from your hard work.

    n.a tangible or beneficial effect achieved through effort or a specific process.

    Simple

    The doctors are happy because the new treatment is producing good results.

    In context

    After months of research, the team finally saw a result that justified their initial hypothesis.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate

    v.to happen because of something else.

    v.to occur as a consequence of a particular cause; often used with 'from' or 'in'.

    Simple

    Many health problems result from eating too much sugar.

    In context

    The negotiations resulted in a compromise that satisfied both the union and the management.

    Usage

    The verb is intransitive and typically requires the preposition 'from' (to indicate the cause) or 'in' (to indicate the effect).

    Pitfall
    The accident resulted of the ice. The accident resulted from the ice.

    Use 'result from' for the cause and 'result in' for the effect.

Don't confuse

result vs consequence — Result is the neutral outcome of an action, while consequence implies a negative or serious logical follow-up.

Usage results suggest · results showed · results show


Recorded since 1432 as Middle English resulten, from Medieval Latin resultare, in Classical Latin "to spring forward, rebound", the frequentative of the past participle of resilio (“to rebound”), from re- (“back”) + salio (“to jump, leap”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin -
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated