26984 words

case

32 definitions • 60 examples
1
a particular situation or example of something:

Examples:

extreme case She was suffering from an extreme case of sunburn.
in each case We have lots of applications from people who want to study here, and in each case we consider the candidate very carefully.
Over a hundred people were injured, in several cases seriously.
in someone's case Jobs are hard to find, but in his case that's not the problem because he has so much experience.
in this case I wouldn't normally agree, but I'll make an exception in this case.
The number of new cases of the illness appears to be declining.
2
because of the mentioned situation:

Examples:

There's no coffee left? In that case I'll have tea.
3
(not) true:

Examples:

If that is the case then I will be very disappointed.
4
also:

Examples:

I don't want to go and in any case, I haven't been invited.
5
because of a possibility of something happening, being needed, etc.:

Examples:

I don't think I'll need any money but I'll bring some just in case.
6
if something happens, or in preparation for when something happens:

Examples:

The camping area has ready access to water, in case of fire.
7
in connection with someone or something, or in the situation of something:

Examples:

The law will apply equally to men and women except in the case of maternity leave.
8
used when a situation is of a particular type:

Examples:

She doesn't want to work full-time - it's a case of having to.
9
an example that shows that what you are saying is true or helps to explain why you are saying it:

Examples:

Lack of communication causes serious problems and their marriage is a case in point.
10
in the same way that it happens:

Examples:

As is often the case with children, Amy was completely better by the time they gave us a doctor's appointment.
11
whichever one of the stated possibilities is true:

Examples:

Feel free to send me a message and let me know what went well or badly, as the case may be.
12
a problem, a series of events, or a person being dealt with by police, doctors, lawyers, etc.:

Examples:

on the case The detective on the case (= responsible for solving it) has been suspended from duty.
Several social workers have looked into the child's case.
The doctor's most difficult case of the day concerns a man with multiple serious health conditions.
13
a matter to be decided by a judge in a law court:

Examples:

a murder case
The case will go before the European Court next month.
She accused her employer of unlawful dismissal and won/lost her case.
14
a container or box for storing something in:

Examples:

The telescope comes with a case.
She took her violin out of its case.
The flag is on display inside a glass case.
15
a large, rectangular container with a handle, for carrying clothes and possessions while travelling:

Examples:

Will you bring your cases out to the car?
He went upstairs to pack his case.
16
a box holding twelve or more bottles of wine or another type of drink, or the bottles and their contents:

Examples:

He bought his brother a case of wine for his birthday.
Can you get some more lemonade? We've drunk the whole case.
17
arguments, facts, and reasons in support of or against something:

Examples:

There's a good case for/against bringing in new regulations.
The case against cigarette advertising is becoming stronger all the time.
She's very busy so don't overstate the case - just give her the facts.
18
in some languages, any of the various forms of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that show the work it does in a sentence, for example by a special word ending:

Examples:

The definite article is not standard before a noun in the vocative case.
"He" and "him" express different grammatical cases.
Cases can evolve as a language evolves (for instance, in Ancient Greek, the locative case merged with the dative case).
19
each of the two forms, capital or small, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed:

Examples:

upper-case/lower-case letters
20
to look at a place with the intention of stealing from it later:

Examples:

He looked around shiftily, as if he was casing the joint.
21
a particular situation or example of something:

Examples:

We don’t normally accept credits from courses taken at another university, but we’ll make an exception in your case.
It was a case of not knowing what to say.
She said I refused to answer the question, but that is not the case (= that is not accurate).
22
In case means if something else should happen:

Examples:

I think we should leave a little early, in case there’s a lot of traffic.
23
In case of something means if something should happen, esp. something unusual or unexpected:

Examples:

In case of fire, go immediately to the nearest emergency exit.
24
an item or particular matter that is being dealt with as a problem to be solved, or a person considered in this way:

Examples:

Your skin problem may be a mild case of eczema.
He is a sad case – out of work and with few friends to help him.
25
arguments, facts, and reasons in support of or against something:

Examples:

He presented the case against cutting the military budget.
26
law In a court of law, a case is a matter to be decided by a judge or jury (= group of people):

Examples:

She claimed the city’s negligence caused her accident, but she lost the case.
27
a container used for protecting or storing things:

Examples:

an eyeglass case
a case of seltzer
28
the form a noun, pronoun, or adjective takes depending on its relationship to other words in a sentence:

Examples:

The possessive case of a noun is usually formed with the ending -’s.
29
a container or box for storing, showing, or carrying something:

Examples:

The store had a display case full of antique jewellery.
The laptop is sold with a padded carrying case.
30
a box holding twelve bottles of wine or another type of alcoholic drink, or the twelve bottles and their contents:

Examples:

a case of beer/wine
There is a 5% discount if you buy a case.
31
arguments and reasons why something is right or wrong, should or should not be done, etc.:

Examples:

a case for/against sth There's a good case for bringing in new regulations.
make/argue a case The study makes the case for increasing flexible working.
a good/strong case The union believes it has been vindicated and has a very strong case.
32
a matter to be decided by a judge in a court of law:

Examples:

win/lose a case She accused her employer of unlawful dismissal and won her case.
settle/drop a case The parties agreed to settle the case on the basis of the carrier's limitation fund.

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