consequence

consequence — noun

1. Something that follows directly from an earlier action, decision, or situation —

1.名詞B1
釋義

Something that follows directly from an earlier action, decision, or situation — especially when that result is unwanted or negative.

例句

Beatrix lost her job as a direct consequence of the budget cuts at her firm.

direct consequence of [noun phrase]

The long-term consequences of the factory fire are still being studied.

long-term consequences of [noun]

同義詞
  • result

    Broader and more neutral; can refer to any outcome, positive or negative

  • outcome

    Focuses on the end point of a process, often with a sense of finality

  • aftermath

    Specifically refers to the period following a destructive event; always negative

  • repercussion

    Suggests an indirect or secondary effect that spreads widely

反義詞
  • cause

    Consequence is the effect; cause is what produces it

  • origin

    The starting point rather than the resulting outcome

文法句型

the consequences of [noun/gerund]

consequence + of + noun phrase

as a consequence of [noun]

face/suffer/accept the consequences

用法筆記

Frequently used with possessives ('the consequences of your actions') and with adjectives that evaluate severity ('serious', 'dire', 'unintended'). The plural form 'consequences' is more common than the singular in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌He lost his money as a consequence for gambling.
✅He lost his money as a consequence of gambling.
💡The preposition after 'consequence' must be 'of', not 'for'.
❌The consequence for the mistake was a fine.
✅The consequence of the mistake was a fine.
💡Use 'of' before the cause; use 'for' only before the person affected ('consequences for the company').

2. Used in fixed phrases such as 'of little consequence' or 'of no consequence' to

2.名詞B2
釋義

Used in fixed phrases such as 'of little consequence' or 'of no consequence' to indicate that something lacks importance or does not matter.

例句

The colour of the walls is of little consequence — what really matters is the location.

be of little consequence

Whether the meeting is on Monday or Tuesday is of no consequence to the team.

be of no consequence to [someone]

同義詞
  • importance

    Neutral and more widely usable across grammatical patterns

  • significance

    Slightly more formal; often implies deeper meaning or impact

  • weight

    Informal and metaphorical; suggests influence or seriousness

  • note

    Used in 'of note', a similar fixed phrase meaning 'important or famous'

反義詞
  • triviality

    Direct opposite — the quality of being unimportant or insignificant

文法句型

of + [adjective] + consequence

be of little/no/major/great/some consequence

用法筆記

This sense only occurs in the pattern 'of + adjective + consequence'. It cannot stand alone — you cannot say 'This has consequence' to mean 'This matters'. Common adjectives used in this pattern are 'little', 'no', 'great', 'some', 'major', and 'minor'.

常見錯誤

❌This matter has consequence for our decision.
✅This matter is of great consequence for our decision.
💡In this sense, 'consequence' must follow 'of + adjective', not stand alone as a direct object.
❌The consequence of this issue is low.
✅This issue is of little consequence.
💡Do not use 'consequence' with 'low' or 'high'; use the fixed 'of + adjective + consequence' pattern instead.