consequences

IPA/ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz/
KK[kˈɑnsəkwˌɛnsəz]IPA/ˈkɑːnsɪkwensɪz/

consequences — noun

1. things that happen after an action or event because of it, especially when they

1.nounB2
Definition

things that happen after an action or event because of it, especially when they bring trouble or difficulty

Example

The company ignored the safety report and faced serious consequences after the fire.

face serious consequences after a harmful event

Mina thought about the consequences before posting the angry message online.

think about the consequences before an action

Common collocations
  • face the consequences
  • suffer the consequences
  • accept the consequences
  • serious consequences
  • legal consequences
  • unintended consequences
Synonyms
  • result

    broader and more neutral; it does not usually suggest harm

  • effect

    focuses on the impact itself rather than on responsibility for an action

  • outcome

    neutral and often used for the final end of a process

  • repercussion

    more formal and often suggests wider, delayed bad effects

Antonyms
  • benefit

    a good result that helps someone or something

  • advantage

    a helpful or favorable result rather than a harmful one

Grammar Patterns

consequences of + noun phrase

face the consequences

suffer the consequences

think about the consequences

Usage Note

Usually used in the plural when talking about the results of a choice, mistake, or event. It often suggests harm or difficulty rather than a neutral outcome, and it is common with verbs such as face, suffer, accept, and think about.

Common Mistakes

The decision had many results for her family.
The decision had serious consequences for her family.
use consequences when the results are harmful or difficult, not just any outcome.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Consequences usually suggests what follows a decision or action, and it often carries a negative or warning tone. Result is the broadest word and can be positive, negative, or neutral. Effect focuses more on the impact on a person, place, or system than on the original choice that caused it. Outcome often sounds more neutral and is common when talking about the final end of a process. Repercussion is more formal and usually stresses wider, sometimes delayed, bad effects. A new school rule may have results, but students missing buses or losing free time are consequences. If the change also alters traffic around the school, those wider bad effects are repercussions.

result ↗effect ↗outcome ↗repercussion

Common collocations

Nouns

  • serious consequences
  • legal consequences
  • economic consequences
  • unintended consequences

Phrases

  • face the consequences
  • suffer the consequences
  • accept the consequences
  • think about the consequences

Prepositions

  • consequences of
  • consequences for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Consequences comes from the same history as consequence, which developed from Latin through French into English. Its central idea is that one thing follows another, so the modern meaning refers to results that come after an action, often with serious effects.