Basic Details
Word: Consequence
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Something that happens as a result of an action, often something unpleasant; it can also mean importance.
Synonyms: result, outcome, effect, repercussion
Antonyms: cause
How to Spell Consequence
Syllables: con - se - quence
Tricky part: The middle is se, not si, and the ending is -quence with e twice, not -quance.
Watch out for: consequance, consiquence, consequense, concequence
Memory tip: Sequence is sitting inside: con + sequence. A consequence is simply what comes next in the sequence after you act.
Idioms and Phrases
- face the consequences: to accept the unpleasant results of something you have done. Example: "Rahul broke the window, so he had to face the consequences and pay for a new pane."
Usage Examples
Example 1: One consequence of the long drought was a sharp rise in vegetable prices.
Example 2: Think about the consequences before you share a stranger's photo online.
Example 3: As a consequence of the strike, no buses ran on Monday.
Fun Fact
Consequences is also an old paper game: each player writes part of a story, folds the paper to hide it and passes it on, so the finished tale is usually absurd.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
cons_qu_nce
a) e, a
b) i, e
c) a, e
d) e, e
Show answer
d) e, e. Spot the word sequence inside; it has an e on each side of qu.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word consequence as used in the sentence:
Missing the last ferry had one unpleasant consequence: we spent the night at the jetty.
a) outcome
b) reason
c) origin
d) warning
Show answer
a) outcome. The night at the jetty came after, and because of, missing the ferry, so it was the outcome.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Every choice you make has a ceucnoqense, so think before you act.
a) conference
b) convenience
c) confidence
d) consequence
Show answer
d) consequence. Only one of the four options contains a q, and the jumble has one.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A mistake 'of little consequence' is one that ____.
a) nobody is able to fix
b) costs a lot of money
c) happens every single day
d) does not matter much
Show answer
d) does not matter much
2. Which pair shows a cause followed by its consequence?
a) a cup - a saucer
b) skipping practice - losing the match
c) Monday - Tuesday
d) losing the match - skipping practice
Show answer
b) skipping practice - losing the match
