case
1noun
Idioms for case
Origin of case
1synonym study for case
OTHER WORDS FROM case
case·less, adjective case·less·ly, adverbWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH case
encase in caseWords nearby case
British Dictionary definitions for in case (1 of 2)
noun
Word Origin for case
British Dictionary definitions for in case (2 of 2)
noun
verb (tr)
Word Origin for case
Medical definitions for in case
n.
Cultural definitions for in case
A grammatical category indicating whether nouns and pronouns are functioning as the subject of a sentence (nominative case) or the object of a sentence (objective case), or are indicating possession (possessive case). He is in the nominative case, him is in the objective case, and his is in the possessive case. In a language such as English, nouns do not change their form in the nominative or objective case. Only pronouns do. Thus, ball stays the same in both “the ball is thrown,” where it is the subject, and in “Harry threw the ball,” where it is the object.
Idioms and Phrases with in case (1 of 2)
Also, just in case. If it should happen that. For example, In case he doesn't show up, we have a backup speaker. The variant also is used without a following clause to mean simply “as a precaution,” as in I took an umbrella just in case. [c. 1400]
in case of; in the event of. If there should happen to be. For example, Here is a number to call in case of an emergency, or In the event of a power failure, we'll have to shift our plans. Similarly, in that case means “if that should happen,” as in You're alone in the store? In that case I'll bring your lunch. The first usage dates from the early 1700s, the second (with event) from about 1600, and the third from the mid-1800s. Also see in any case; in no case; in the case of.