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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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Word History and Origins

Origin of because1

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

Origin of because1

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

Idioms
  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.

Friday night in Minneapolis, that cushion came crashing in, Doncic far from himself because of an illness that had him working out on the court an hour before the game.

From

That it could come in part because of a surge of support in Ontario and Quebec - the eastern provinces where so much of the population is concentrated - only adds to the regional divide.

From

This time, he will vote Liberal because of the "Carney factor".

From

But no one is expected to follow him out the door, largely because it would be seen as giving in to Trump, said one longtime member of the program who was not authorized to comment publicly.

From

“People want to work at CBS News and especially at ’60 Minutes’ because they want to work in a place that will stand up and fight for themselves,” Bettag said.

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, “ could be the cause of that?” Add be to the beginning of cause and you have because.

When To Use

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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caught with one's pants down, bebeccafico