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)

• sheath
• casing
• covering
• housing
• cover
• 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

Noun (1)

those binoculars come with their own case

a handy little cosmetics case that matches the rest of her luggage

Noun (2)

her doctor wishes that all of his cases were as cooperative as she is

this is a perfect case of people jumping to the wrong conclusion before all the facts are known

this has never been the case before

you'll get a chance to make your case, but unless you're very convincing, your request will be denied

a young boy suffering from a case of chicken pox

it may be the case that the cause of the fire will forever remain a mystery

that's a tough case to solve

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His first arrest was in the insurance fraud case in October 2021, and he was later charged with the killings in July 2022. —Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

The tastemaker brings to light a particularly poignant anecdote to illustrate the fact that her style decisions in the White House were nothing if not calculated — in many cases exerting a certain degree of soft power. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Outside of capital crimes, prosecutors use their discretion to decide what cases a grand jury should look at, Aronberg said. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

The detectives conducted extensive surveillance this past week and spotted the suspects casing jewelry stores throughout the region, including stores in Sacramento, Stockton, Lodi and the Bay Area, according to the Sheriff’s Office. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for case

• ace
• base
• brace
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• pace
• place
• race

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