noun
outcome
The result of an action or process.
Careful planning improves our chances of a successful outcome.
Etymology
The compound names what comes out of an action or process. The physical direction becomes an image for the result that emerges.
More examples
- The outcome of the election remains uncertain.
- The study compares outcomes for two different treatments.
- Both sides are pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.
Forms
outcome · outcomes
Similar words
- result
- Broadly interchangeable; also names scores, findings, or calculated answers.
- consequence
- Emphasizes what follows from an action, often something undesirable.
- effect
- Emphasizes a change caused by something, not necessarily its endpoint.