karma
Karma (noun) means In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next. Example: “She believes in karma, so she's always careful about how she treats people.”
How to use karma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe idea that what you do — good or bad — eventually comes back to affect you.
In everyday English "karma" is usually used loosely as instant moral payback, which is a simplification of the original religious concept about actions shaping future rebirths.
Word forms
karmas plural
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She believes in _____, so she's always careful about how she treats people.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit karma ("action, deed"), first used in English in 1785 in an early translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for karma
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What does “karma” mean?
The word “karma” means in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next. In plain terms, the idea that what you do — good or bad — eventually comes back to affect you.
How do you pronounce “karma”?
“Karma” is pronounced KAH-muh (/ˈkɑː(ɹ).mə/ in IPA).
How do you use “karma” in a sentence?
Here is “karma” used in a sentence: “She believes in karma, so she's always careful about how she treats people.”
What part of speech is “karma”?
“Karma” is a noun.
Where does the word “karma” come from?
The word “karma” dates back to around 1785 and comes from Sanskrit. Borrowed from Sanskrit karma ("action, deed"), first used in English in 1785 in an early translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
Is “karma” a common word?
“Karma” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “karma” have?
“Karma” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next.
What is the difference between karma and fate?
In Hindu and Buddhist thought, karma is the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their future, so outcomes are earned through one's own deeds. Fate suggests a predetermined course of events set by an outside force regardless of what a person does. Karma ties results to actions, while fate implies they are fixed in advance.
What is the difference between karma and luck?
Luck is good or bad fortune that happens by chance, with no cause in a person's conduct. Karma, in its everyday sense, is the idea that good or bad actions eventually come back around to you, so outcomes are linked to how you have behaved rather than to random chance.
Can "karma" describe the feel of a person or place?
Yes. Beyond its religious and everyday meanings, karma is used loosely for the general feeling, mood, or energy given off by a person or place, as in "this house has good karma." Here it is close in meaning to "vibe" or "atmosphere."
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