Therefore Meaning
/ˈðɛə.fɔː/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
advConsequently, by or in consequence of that or this cause; referring to something previously stated.
advFor that; for it (in reference to a previous statement).
Sentence Examples
I don't think, therefore I am not.
The party, therefore, had to take another route.
He's only 17 and therefore not eligible to vote.
CEFR Practice Quiz
It rained heavily all afternoon without stopping, ____ the outdoor concert was unfortunately canceled.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He did not study for the exam and ____ he was not surprised when he received a very poor result today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English therfore, therfor, tharfore, thorfore; synchronically a univerbation of there (pronominal adverb) + for, literally “for that (reason)”. The spelling has been changed due to a reanalysis as there + fore (literally “forward from that; thence”). See also therefor, ultimately the same formation. Compare Saterland Frisian deerfoar, Dutch daarvoor, German dafür, Danish and Norwegian derfor, Swedish därför.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I have married a wife, and therefore I can not come."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 14:20:
"Je pense, donc je suis (I think, therefore I am)"
— 1637, René Descartes, Discourse on the Method:
"In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work."
— 2012 March-April, Terrence J. Sejnowski, “Well-connected Brains”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 171:
"He blushes; therefore he is innocent."
— 1753, The Spectator, number 642:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
It rained heavily all afternoon without stopping, ____ the outdoor concert was unfortunately canceled.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He did not study for the exam and ____ he was not surprised when he received a very poor result today.