Karma Meaning
/kərm(ə)/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.
nounA force or law of nature which causes one to reap what one sows; destiny; fate.
Sentence Examples
I hope karma bites you in the ass!
Karma is a nasty little bitch!
CEFR Practice Quiz
He believes that helping others will result in positive ____ in the future.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He believes in ____ and thinks that if you do good things, then good things will happen to you in return.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (kárma), nom.sg. of कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”); first attested in English in 1785 in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Charles Wilkins.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"‘We are all part of a circle of karma. We will be rewarded for the good deeds of our forefathers, and pay the price for their sins.’"
— 2023, Santanu Bhattacharya, One Small Voice, Fig Tree, pages 59-60:
"That means everything from lighting to the vibes, the karma of the room."
— 2001, Inside the Hits, page 307:
"How many times when you have been in a bar have you felt that a confrontation was building up, even without extensive verbal exchanges? Sometimes you can feel the karma or energy of a place change, and you should not ignore that"
— 2006, Chase Sargent, From Buddy to Boss, page 219:
"On the way to Lancaster, which was about an hour and a half from Philly, John felt the karma."
— 2010, R.L. Roach, Irish Lie, page 135:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He believes that helping others will result in positive ____ in the future.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He believes in ____ and thinks that if you do good things, then good things will happen to you in return.