Meaning of case In English

• 0 a particular situation or example of something:

  • Over a hundred people were injured, in several cases seriously.

  • Jobs are hard to find but in his case that's not the problem because he has so much experience.

  • I wouldn't normally agree but I'll make an exception in this case.

  • The number of new cases of the illness appears to be declining.

  • We have lots of applications from people who want to study here and in each case we consider the candidate very carefully.

  • She was suffering from an extreme case of sunburn.

  • There's no coffee left? In that case I'll have tea.

  • If that is the case then I will be very disappointed.

  • I don't want to go and in any case, I haven't been invited.

  • I don't think I'll need any money but I'll bring some just in case.

  • Bring a map in case you get lost.

  • The camping area has ready access to water, in case of fire.

  • The law will apply equally to men and women except in the case of maternity leave.

  • She doesn't want to work full-time, it's a case of having to.

  • Lack of communication causes serious problems and their marriage is a case in point.

  • When the election is called in April, or June, as the case might be, we shall be ready for it.

• 1 a problem, a series of events, or a person being dealt with by police, doctors, lawyers, etc.:

  • Several social workers have looked into the child's case.

  • The detective on the case (= responsible for solving it) has been suspended from duty.

  • When he first went for treatment at the hospital he seemed to be a hopeless case (= a person who could not be cured).

  • a murder case

  • The case will go before the European Court next month.

  • She accused her employer of unlawful dismissal and won/lost her case.

• 2 a container or box for storing something in:

  • The telescope comes with a case.

  • She took her violin out of its case.

  • The flag is on display inside a glass case.

  • Will you bring your cases out to the car?

  • He went upstairs to pack his case.

  • He bought his brother a case of wine for his birthday.

  • Can you get some more lemonade? We've drunk the whole case.

• 3 arguments, facts, and reasons in support of or against something:

  • There's a good case for/against bringing in new regulations.

  • The case against cigarette advertising is becoming stronger all the time.

  • She's very busy so don't overstate the case - just give her the facts.

• 4 any of the various types to which a noun can belong, according to the work it does in a sentence, shown in some languages by a special word ending:

  • the accusative/dative case

• 5 each of the two forms, capital or small, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed:

  • upper-case/lower-case letters

• 6 to look at a place with the intention of stealing from it later:

  • He looked around shiftily, as if he was casing the joint.

• 7 a particular situation or example of something:

  • We don’t normally accept credits from courses taken at another university, but we’ll make an exception in your case.

  • It was a case of not knowing what to say.

  • She said I refused to answer the question, but that is not the case (= that is not accurate).

  • I think we should leave a little early, in case there’s a lot of traffic.

  • In case of fire, go immediately to the nearest emergency exit.

• 8 an item or particular matter that is being dealt with as a problem to be solved, or a person considered in this way:

  • Your skin problem may be a mild case of eczema.

  • He is a sad case – out of work and with few friends to help him.

• 9 arguments, facts, and reasons in support of or against something:

  • He presented the case against cutting the military budget.

  • She claimed the city’s negligence caused her accident, but she lost the case.

• 10 a container used for protecting or storing things:

  • an eyeglass case

  • a case of seltzer

• 11 the form a noun, pronoun, or adjective takes depending on its relationship to other words in a sentence:

  • The possessive case of a noun is usually formed with the ending -’s.

• 12 a container or box for storing, showing, or carrying something:

  • The store had a display case full of antique jewellery.

  • The laptop is sold with a padded carrying case.

  • packing cases

• 13 a box holding twelve bottles of wine or another type of alcoholic drink, or the twelve bottles and their contents:

  • a case of beer/wine

  • There is a 5% discount if you buy a case.

• 14 arguments and reasons why something is right or wrong, should or should not be done, etc.:

  • a case for/against sth There's a good case for bringing in new regulations.

  • make/argue a case The study makes the case for increasing flexible working.

  • a good/strong case The union believes it has been vindicated and has a very strong case.

• 15 a matter to be decided by a judge in a court of law:

  • a libel/fraud/discrimination case

  • win/lose a case She accused her employer of unlawful dismissal and won her case.

  • settle/drop a case The parties agreed to settle the case on the basis of the carrier's limitation fund.