Phrase guide

in case

conj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɪn ˈkeɪs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

conj

Meaning 1

To allow for the possibility that.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I'll take an umbrella, in case it rains.
  • I’ve bought a chicken in case grandpa should stay to dine.
  • Many's the day I've spent by the phone in case you called.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

conj

Meaning 2

If.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, US

Examples

  • In case you need me, I'll be home all day.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

if there happens to be need

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • in case of trouble call 911
  • I have money, just in case

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: just in case

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?].

Across languages

Translations

53 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: فِي حَال (fī ḥāl) — because event X might occur
  • Belarusian: у вы́падку (u výpadku) — because event X might occur
  • Belarusian: у ра́зе (u rázje) — because event X might occur
  • Bulgarian: в слу́чай (v slúčaj) — because event X might occur
  • Catalan: en cas que — because event X might occur
  • Chinese Mandarin: 如果 (rúguǒ) — because event X might occur
  • Chinese Mandarin: 以防 (yǐfáng) — because event X might occur
  • Cornish: les — because event X might occur
  • Czech: v případě — because event X might occur
  • Danish: i fald — because event X might occur
  • Danish: for det fald, at — because event X might occur
  • Danish: såfremt — because event X might occur
  • Danish: i tilfælde af — because event X might occur
  • Dutch: voor het geval dat — because event X might occur
  • French: au cas où — because event X might occur
  • Georgian: იმ შემთხვევაში, თუ (im šemtxvevaši, tu) — because event X might occur
  • German: falls — because event X might occur
  • German: im Falle — because event X might occur
  • Greek: σε περίπτωση που (se períptosi pou) — because event X might occur
  • Hanunoo: abi — because event X might occur
  • Hungarian: arra az esetre, ha — because event X might occur
  • Ido: kaze ke — because event X might occur
  • Italian: qualora — because event X might occur
  • Japanese: ...の場合に (... no baai ni) — because event X might occur
  • Korean: ...은/ᄂ 경우에는 (...-eun/-n gyeong'u-e-neun) — because event X might occur
  • Macedonian: во случај (vo slučaj) — because event X might occur
  • Māori: me kore — because event X might occur
  • Māori: kei tūpono — because event X might occur
  • Norwegian Bokmål: i tilfelle — because event X might occur
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: i tilfelle — because event X might occur
  • Pannonian Rusyn: у случаю (u slučaju) — because event X might occur
  • Polish: w razie — because event X might occur
  • Polish: na wypadek — because event X might occur
  • Polish: w przypadku — because event X might occur
  • Portuguese: caso — because event X might occur
  • Portuguese: no caso de — because event X might occur
  • Portuguese: para caso — because event X might occur
  • Russian: в слу́чае (v slúčaje) — because event X might occur
  • Russian: на слу́чай (na slúčaj) — because event X might occur
  • Slovak: v prípade — because event X might occur
  • Spanish: por si acaso — because event X might occur
  • Spanish: por si — because event X might occur
  • Swedish: i händelse — because event X might occur
  • Swedish: ifall — because event X might occur
  • Telugu: ఒకవేళ (okavēḷa) — because event X might occur
  • Turkish: eğer — because event X might occur
  • Ukrainian: у ра́зі (u rázi) — because event X might occur
  • Ukrainian: у ви́падку (u výpadku) — because event X might occur
  • Vietnamese: không thôi — because event X might occur
  • Walloon: si e cas — because event X might occur
  • Walloon: po si e cas — because event X might occur
  • Welsh: rhag ofn — because event X might occur
  • Yiddish: טאָמער (tomer) — because event X might occur