result

1 of 2

verb

re·​sult ri-ˈzəlt How to pronounce result (audio)
resulted; resulting; results

intransitive verb

1
a
: to proceed or arise as a consequence, effect, or conclusion
death resulted from the disease
b
: to have an issue or result
the disease resulted in death
2

result

2 of 2

noun

1
: something that results as a consequence, issue, or conclusion
also : beneficial or tangible effect : fruit
2
: something obtained by calculation or investigation
resultful adjective
resultless adjective

Examples of result in a Sentence

Verb If you take this drug, side effects may result. Noun The book is the result of years of hard work and dedication. The end result of his work was a classic American novel. The investigation continued without result.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
What resulted was a booklet that contains clever observations and items on diverse subjects, including parenting, children, aging, animals, forgiveness and more. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 North Atlantic right whales are legally protected, both internationally and in U.S. waters, including policies that seek to reduce deaths or serious injuries resulting from entanglements. Joshua Reed, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2024 Solar retinopathy, a condition resulting from intense light exposure, can cause serious and often permanent damage to the retina, the sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 Many of them described visions that drew from their lives and seemed to hold meaning, unlike hallucinations resulting from medication, or delusional, incoherent thinking, which can also occur at the end of life. Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Here’s some essential reading: 5 tips for cooking juicy pork chops quickly 6 tips for browning food to get more flavor 7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time Baking spices add complexity to savory dishes. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 His reporting resulted directly in the passage of five new laws. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2024 The resulting legal order will be characterized by fracture and distance, not entanglement. Aziz Huq, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 The differences in how well the treatments work could result from the minerals found in your household’s water. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
The results are both watery and chalky and fascinatingly complex. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The result is lower economic growth, fewer new business starts, and less job creation. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 The result was a roster that better matched Tweed’s playing style and preferences. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Election workers transport ballots back to their offices, verify voters' identities, count ballots and report results to an eager public. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024 The result of the campaign is a silicon microchip on the panel with the names of 2.6 million people stenciled onto it. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 What retailers are saying By now, most retailers have reported their latest earnings results and provided analysts with their outlook for the year. Bryan Mena, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 While San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan may have won a clear victory in last Tuesday’s election, the results for the City Council races weren’t so immediately clear. Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 In many cases, foot masks will show results almost immediately after use. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'result.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Medieval Latin resultare, from Latin, to rebound, from re- + saltare to leap — more at saltation

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of result was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near result

Cite this Entry

“Result.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/result. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

result

1 of 2 verb
re·​sult ri-ˈzəlt How to pronounce result (audio)
1
: to come about as an effect, consequence, or conclusion
disease results from infection
2
: to have as an effect
the disease results in death

result

2 of 2 noun
1
: something that comes about as an effect or end
2
: a good or clear effect
this method gets results
3
: something obtained by calculation or investigation
resultful adjective
resultless adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on result

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