case

1 of 3

noun (1)

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
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
And vote-by-mail ballots — historically used more often by conservative and older voters — made for dramatic finishes in some cases. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024 Officials have said certain cases are under investigation. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 Related article Man arrested after DNA helps crack cold case killing Tucker’s body was discovered the following morning near a parking lot by students who were on their way to class at the college in Gresham, the DA’s news release states. Andi Babineau, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Trump’s posts on Truth Social were used as evidence in the January case. William Turton, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024 None of these three has been charged in these cases. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024 In my case, especially in the Canary Islands, I was greatly influenced by Celia Cruz. Ingrid Fajardo, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 According to his testimony, two gun cases and a gun safe were found in the house. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Arizona has the strongest case of the unranked teams based largely on its play since Feb. 16 — and with its No. 34 ranking in the NET. Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
But defense attorneys say prosecutors knew which cases Jones would help them with and that claiming otherwise in court was a convenient and disingenuous sleight of hand. The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 Investigators further found a Canik 9mm handgun at the foot of the bed with a shell casing inside. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Jan. 2024 When a burglary crew cased a wealthy Pacific Palisades enclave off Sunset Boulevard last week, LAPD detectives were watching covertly. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Photograph: Swatch Group Omega followed the first Alaska prototype with a second design the following year, cased in the conventional 42-mm Moonwatch case. Chris Hall, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 Early voting has already begun in hard-to-access areas, with approximately 70,000 people able to case their ballots in remote areas of Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District, according to state news agency TASS. Rob Picheta, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 The money has paid for everything from shelter beds to case workers to security deposits so people living in encampments could rent apartments. Marisa Kendall, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 Over and over, American soldiers were found dead next to jammed rifles, often with the cleaning rod shoved down the barrel in a desperate attempt to clear a shell casing from the chamber. Sebastian Junger, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 Authorities found a 9-millimeter shell casing at the scene, Kenny said. Nic F. Anderson, CNN, 8 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'case.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of case was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near case

Cite this Entry

“Case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/case. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

case

1 of 2 noun
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
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
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
1
: the circumstances and situation of a particular person or group
2
a
: an instance of disease or injury
10 cases of pneumonia

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 ConstitutionU.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

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