in case

1 of 2

conjunction

1
: as a precaution against the event that
carries an umbrella in case it rains
2
: if
In case we are surprised, keep by me.Washington Irving

in case

2 of 2

phrase

: as a precaution
took an umbrella, just in case

Examples of in case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Conjunction
In Petersplatz, in central Basel, seamstresses remained on call throughout the festival to repair the traditional Alpine folk costumes worn by participants in case of emergency. ABC News, 29 June 2026 From packing a car seat and a hospital bag to researching local labor and delivery centers, Madison and Kirk, 40, had taken every precaution just in case. Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 That showed up as a potential issue early on during the simulator runs, so NASA and Lockheed Martin tried to ensure that the autopilot systems could provide backup in case the aircraft didn’t handle well in flight. Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 Have a bucket of water or a garden hose ready in case of fire or to safely soak used fireworks. Drew Pittock, USA Today, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for in case

Word History

First Known Use

Conjunction

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of in case was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20case. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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