because of

preposition

Synonyms of because ofnext
: by reason of : on account of

Synonyms of because of

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Examples of because of in a Sentence

I was late for work because of the snowstorm, which made driving a nightmare.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Game 4 of the American League Championship Series was postponed because of rain Friday night. — Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Russia is even more dependent on China than Ukraine, experts say, in part because of Western sanctions that restrict its access to other markets. — Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026 Larsson has missed practice time and the final three preseason games because of his illness, and Smith missed the entire preseason after straining his calf during training camp. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 Wine grapes have traditionally not been eaten because of their thicker skins, seeds and higher acidity levels. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for because of

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of because of was in the 14th century

Rhymes for because of

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Browse Nearby Words

because
because of
beccafico
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Cite this Entry

“Because of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/because%20of. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

because of

preposition
: by reason of
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