therefore
- 01 B1 Intermediate
for that reason; you use this to show the result of what you just said.
introducing a logical conclusion or consequence of the facts just stated.
Simple“The player was injured and therefore could not play in the final match.”
In context“The research team failed to secure additional funding; therefore, the project was terminated before the final testing phase could begin.”
UsageOften placed after a semicolon or at the start of a new sentence to link ideas.
Teacher's tipWhile common in academic writing and formal speech, it can sound too stiff in casual conversation where 'so' is preferred.
PitfallThe weather was bad, therefore, we stayed home. The weather was bad; therefore, we stayed home.In formal writing, 'therefore' cannot connect two independent sentences with only a comma. Use a semicolon or start a new sentence.
Synonyms
Usage therefore an important · therefore depends · therefore likely
From Middle English therfore, therfor, tharfore, thorfore; synchronically a univerbation of there (pronominal adverb) + for, literally “for that (reason)”. The spelling has been changed due to a reanalysis as there + fore (literally “forward from that; thence”). See also therefor, ultimately the same formation. Compare Saterland Frisian deerfoar, Dutch daarvoor, German dafür, Danish and Norwegian derfor, Swedish därför.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.