at the root of

idiom

: the reason for (something)
Simple greed was at the root of the robbery.

Examples of at the root of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Barber feels certain the medication is at the root of her problems. Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024 But at the root of all the officialese is an organization’s hypothesis of commonality—its emotional quotient. Deepa Nagraj, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 In January 2023, SpaceX reached an agreement with the National Science Foundation to mitigate the effects of the second-generation Starlink satellites, which are at the root of ASTRON’s problems. William Gavin, Quartz, 19 Sep. 2024 Miguel Cardona explained how the Department of Education is working to make college more affordable for people who pursue careers in teaching and public service, address issues at the root of student debt problems and expand access to alternative forms of higher education. Axios Events, Axios, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for at the root of 

Dictionary Entries Near at the root of

Cite this Entry

“At the root of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20root%20of. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!