case

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈkās 

1

a

: a set of circumstances or conditions

is the statement true in all three cases

b(1)

: a situation requiring investigation or action (as by the police)

Her disappearance is a case for the police.

(2)

: the object of investigation or consideration

The child's case was turned over to state authorities.

2

: condition

specifically : condition of body or mind

3

[Middle English cas, from Anglo-French, from Latin casus, translation of Greek ptōsis, literally, fall]

a

: an inflectional form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective indicating its grammatical relation to other words

the possessive case

b

: such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not

4

: what actually exists or happens : fact

thought he had failed, but that wasn't the case

5

a

: a suit or action in law or equity

a criminal case

a civil case

b(1)

: the evidence supporting a conclusion or judgment

(2)

: argument

especially : a convincing argument

makes a good case for adopting the proposal

6

a

: an instance of disease or injury

a case of pneumonia

also : patient

Dr. Berg's cases

b

: an instance that directs attention to a situation or exhibits it in action : example

c

: a peculiar person : character

The gangsters were hard cases.

7

: oneself considered as an object of harassment or criticism

get off my case

case

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a box or receptacle for holding something

a display case in a museum

b

: a box together with its contents

a case of beer

c

: set

specifically : pair

a case of pistols

2

a

: an outer covering or housing

a pastry case

b

: a tube into which the components of a round of ammunition are loaded

3

: a divided tray for holding printing type

4

: the frame of a door or window : casing

case

3 of 3

verb

cased; casing

transitive verb

1

: to enclose in or cover with or as if with a case : encase

cased his coin collection

2

: to line (something, such as a well) with supporting material (such as metal pipe)

3

: to inspect or study especially with intent to rob

cased the bank before the robbery

Phrases

in any case

: without regard to or in spite of other considerations : whatever else is done or is the case

war is inevitable in any case

in any case the report will be made public next month

in case

: as a precaution

took an umbrella, just in case

in case of

: in the event of

in case of trouble, yell

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• armor
• capsule
• casing
• cocoon
• cover
• covering
• encasement
• housing
• hull
• husk
• jacket
• pod
• sheath
• shell

Noun (2)

• patient

Choose the Right Synonym for case

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category.

instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Examples of case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Zenith Zenith first teamed up with British DJ, producer, and house music pioneer Carl Cox back in 2020 for a limited edition variation of its Defy watch with a carbon case, a small seconds indicator shaped like a vinyl record, and a bright red strap. —Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023

For eight months, McClain’s death remained largely a Colorado story until George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020 sparked scrutiny of cases in which unarmed Black people were killed, including Breonna Taylor in Louisville and Ahmaud Arbery in suburban Georgia. —Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023

In this case: U2, the Flaming Lips, Sunny Day Real Estate…Seal. —Ryan Reed, Spin, 20 Sep. 2023

He has been charged with 13 felony counts in that case, including racketeering (violating the Georgia RICO Act) and false statements and writings. —Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023

More than 2,000 cases of congenital syphilis were reported in 2021 alone, which is the highest number reported in one year since 1994, the federal health agency said. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023

This case is merely the beginning of our battle to defend authors from theft by OpenAI and other generative AI. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2023

Evidence photos from the U.S. District Court case illustrate the sophisticated operation run out of a house in Nuevo Laredo for years, right across the border from Laredo, Texas. —Stephen Stock, Michael Botsford, Jose Sanchez, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2023

Earlier this month, Mar-a-Lago information technology worker Yuscil Taveras agreed to testify against Trump in the classified documents case. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 20 Sep. 2023

Verb

During the trial, state prosecutors had argued that Molitor and the Null brothers had participated in military-style drills and cased Whitmer’s vacation property in Antrim County in northern Michigan. —Tim Craig, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023

Responding officers discovered a bullet hole in a Pepsi machine behind the counter and a shell casing on the ground. —John H. Tucker, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2023

All aluminum, platforms, plates, casing, and packaging are also recyclable, and Catipilla has a paper-free office The main downside is that because the company is based in the United Kingdom, there is a substantial shipping fee to other countries. —Mary Jo Dilonardo, Treehugger, 10 Sep. 2023

Investigators recovered a 9mm shell casing outside the vestibule, and a 9mm Canik firearm from the vestibule. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2023

More super rich names are coming up in the Jeffrey Epstein cases JPMorgan also opened accounts for Epstein victims and co-conspirators and managed the flow of money between them, the filing alleged. —Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 25 July 2023

Investigators later found a .45-caliber cartridge casing at the scene and additional surveillance footage that showed Bell’s face. —Lana Ferguson, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2023

Turnout was high for a typically sleepy one-issue August election, with more than 2.8 million Ohioans casing ballots. —Peter Weber, The Week, 8 Aug. 2023

My body was so tired, so worn from the hike that a moment to unwind, remain motionless, and fully envelope myself in the chimes and dings casing the room was much needed. —Barry Samaha, Robb Report, 26 July 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cas, from Anglo-French, from Latin casus fall, chance, from cadere to fall — more at chance

Noun (2)

Middle English cas, from Anglo-French case, chase, from Latin capsa chest, case, probably from capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing case

• case knife
• basket case
• case study
• best-case
• case in point
• case history
• case fatality rate
• case law
• head case
• classic case
• egg case
• dispatch case
• get off someone's case
• get on someone's case
• in any case
• in case
• lower case
• in which case
• index case
• is it not the case
• test case
• mental case
• nut case
• textbook case/example
• on someone's case
• traveling case
• train case
• whatever the case (may be)
• worst-case
• cosmetic case
• case of mistaken identity
• case system
• federal case
• case goods
• press one's case
• carrying case
• hard case
• in that case
• a case of mistaken identity
• the case
• case-sensitive
• oblique case
• upper case
• a case of the sulks
• use case
• wing case
• case-harden
• pencil case
• case fatality ratio
• spore case
• in case of
• make a federal case out of
• getting on his case

See More

• case knife
• basket case
• case study
• best-case
• case in point
• case history
• case fatality rate
• case law
• head case
• classic case
• egg case
• dispatch case
• get off someone's case
• get on someone's case
• in any case
• in case
• lower case
• in which case
• index case
• is it not the case
• test case
• mental case
• nut case
• textbook case/example
• on someone's case
• traveling case
• train case
• whatever the case (may be)
• worst-case
• cosmetic case
• case of mistaken identity
• case system
• federal case
• case goods
• press one's case
• carrying case
• hard case
• in that case
• a case of mistaken identity
• the case
• case-sensitive
• oblique case
• upper case
• a case of the sulks
• use case
• wing case
• case-harden
• pencil case
• case fatality ratio
• spore case
• in case of
• make a federal case out of
• getting on his case

See More

Kids Definition

case

1 of 2 noun

ˈkās 

1

: a situation requiring investigation, action, or consideration

a case for the police

2

a

: a form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective showing its grammatical relation to other words

the word "child's" in "a child's shirt" is in the possessive case

b

: such a relation whether shown by change of form or not

the subject of a verb is in the nominative case

3

: what actually exists or happens : fact

thought he had failed, but that wasn't the case

4

: a question or claim to be settled in a court of law

5

: a convincing argument

made a good case for accepting the plan

6

a

: an instance of disease or injury

a case of chicken pox

b

: patient entry 2

7

: example sense 3

a case of injustice

case

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a box or container to hold something

b

: a box with its contents

2

: an outer covering or protective shield

3

: casing sense 2

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cas "situation needing action," from early French cas (same meaning), from Latin casus "fall, chance," from cadere "to fall, happen, come by chance"

Noun

Middle English cas "box, container," from early French case, chase (same meaning), from Latin capsa "chest, box," from capere "to take" — related to capture, cash

Medical Definition

case

noun

ˈkās 

1

: the circumstances and situation of a particular person or group

2

a

: an instance of disease or injury

10 cases of pneumonia

b

: patient sense 1

Legal Definition

case

1 of 2 noun

1

a

: a civil or criminal suit or action

the judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution

—U.S. Constitution art. III

see also controversy, small tax case

— case at bar

: a case being considered by the court

the facts of the case at bar

— case of first impression

: a case that presents an issue or question never before decided or considered by the court

— companion case

: a case that is heard with another case because it involves similar or related questions of law

— test case

: a representative case whose outcome will serve as precedent for future cases and especially for pending cases involving similar or related issues or circumstances and often some of the same parties

Note: A test case is selected from a number of cases in order to avoid a flood of litigation. All of the parties to the cases must agree to accept the outcome of the test case as binding.

: a proceeding usually in the form of a suit for injunction brought to obtain a decision as to the constitutionality of a statute

b

: the reported facts, procedural history, and especially decision in an action

— landmark case

: a case that marks a significant turning point on a particular issue

— leading case

: a case so well reasoned and important in the rules of law determined and in the principles declared that it becomes well-known and is frequently cited by courts and lawyers as settling the points of law ruled upon and as useful in resolving new questions of law

c

: the evidence and arguments presented by a party in court see also case stated

— case in chief

: the main part of a party's case including arguments for which the party bears the burden of proof but not including rebuttal

— prima facie case

: a case established by evidence that is sufficient to raise a presumption of fact or establish the fact in question unless rebutted

2

: trespass on the case at trespass

case

2 of 2 transitive verb

cased; casing

: to inspect or study with intent to rob

casing a store

Etymology

Noun

Latin casus accident, event, set of circumstances, literally, act of falling