English

Conjunction

so that

1. Indicates purpose; in order that, with the result that.

   He must die so that others might live.‎

   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

     He seized his axe, which he had made very sharp, and as the leader of the wolves came on the Tin Woodman swung his arm and chopped the wolf's head from its body, so that it immediately died.

2. Indicates purpose; in such a way that, with the intent that.

   He tied a complex knot so that others would find it hard to undo.‎

   • 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, The Bat, chapterI:

     The Bat—they called him the Bat. […]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.

Usage notes

• “So that” is used as a subordinate clause to show purpose or to give an explanation. It is used to show an action producing an intended result or a cause producing an effect. In the format Sentence 1 “so that” Sentence 2, the first sentence is the action/cause and the second is the intended result/effect. In the format “So that” Sentence 1, Sentence 2, the first subject-verb clause is the intended result/effect and the second is the action/cause.

Synonyms

• in order that
• that (conjunction)

Related terms

• in order
• in order for
• in order to

Translations

Anagrams

• shotta