result

The word result often refers to what happens (or what has happened) because of something else.

A close synonym for result is outcome.

Like result, outcome often implies that something has ended and reached its conclusion, such as a game or a research project. Another term for this is end result. A somewhat less common synonym is upshot.

In these contexts, the result is what has come out of it—the result of a game is the final score or, more specifically, who won; the result of research is the data that has been gathered from it.

The result of a cause is called an effect. All effects come after an action, but the word aftereffect can be used for delayed effects—those that come later, after the initial effects.

The result of a certain action is called a consequence. The word repercussion often refers to a negative consequence.

The word aftermath is usually reserved for the consequences of a major event—what happens after it.