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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Authorities have limited or restricted access to another 123 sites because of environmental conditions or obstacles that could hinder an evacuation in the event of a wildfire. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The project ended up costing much more than the couple expected, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Dell argues its electric charges are typically cheaper on average because of the money saved by the batteries giving power back to the grid when demand is lower. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Our favorite is the Trimax BugZooka WB100 because of its powerful suction and manual operation that doesn’t rely on batteries. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

because of

preposition
: by reason of

More from Merriam-Webster on because of

Nglish: Translation of because of for Spanish Speakers

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