51Թ

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View synonyms for

because

[ bih-kawz, -koz, -kuhz ]

conjunction

  1. for the reason that; due to the fact that:

    The boy was absent because he was ill.



preposition

  1. Informal. (used directly before a noun, adjective, verb, interjection, etc., to convey a very concise rationale, excuse, or explanation):

    We’re a little like monkeys because evolution.

    He doesn’t practice enough: because lazy.

    I love doughnuts because yum!

because

/ -ˈkəz; bɪˈkɒz /

conjunction

  1. subordinating on account of the fact that; on account of being; since

    because it's so cold we'll go home

  2. because of
    preposition on account of

    I lost my job because of her

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage Note

See reason.
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Usage

See reason
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of because1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bi cause; by ( def ), cause ( def )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of because1

C14 bi cause , from bi by + cause
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. because of, by reason of; due to:

    Schools were closed because of heavy snowfall.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“I’ve been in a dream ever since then, and I didn’t know if I wanted to wake up, because what if you weren’t there?”

From

And because chivalry is not dead, Henry even goes so far as to help Violet weed out other potential suspects.

From

Because let’s be honest — the frosting is often what gets people talking.

From

"Today, in court, the government reiterated the same baseless racist claims about my husband that we have heard time and again, an attempt to smear those calling for an end to Israel's brutal genocide in Gaza. My husband is a political prisoner who is being deprived of his rights because he believes Palestinians deserve equal dignity and freedom."

From

The archivists argue that until we have a clearer picture, Wikipedia should refrain from calling this a “crash” because it’s too politically contentious.

From

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How Do You Spell Because?

Spelling tips for because

The word because is hard to spell since the -cause part of the word is pronounced [ koz ] or [ kuhz .

How to spell because: The word cause means “reason or motive”. To remember how to spell because, ask yourself, “What could be the cause of that?” Add be to the beginning of cause and you have because.

When To Use

What are other ways to say because?

The conjunction because means “for the reason that” or “due to the fact that.” Do you know when to use because, as, since, for, and inasmuch as? Learn more on .

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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