lead to something
to cause something to happen eventually after a period of time

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

cause to make something happen, especially something bad:
Bad weather has caused a lot of problems on the roads.
The fault caused the whole computer system to shut down.
make somebody/something do something to cause someone to do something, or cause something to happen. Make is less formal than cause, and is the usual word to use in everyday English:
What made you decide to become a teacher?
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.
Gravity is the force which makes the planets move round the Sun.
be responsible for something if someone or something is responsible for something bad, they caused it to happen:
The excessive heat was responsible for their deaths.
A small militant group was responsible for the bombing.
bring about something to make something happen – used especially about changes or improvements:
The Internet has brought about enormous changes in society.
It’s important that we do everything we can to bring about peace.
result in something if an action or event results in something, it makes that thing happen:
The fire resulted in the deaths of two children.
The decision is likely to result in a large number of job losses.
lead to something to cause something to happen eventually after a period of time:
The information led to several arrests.
A poor diet in childhood can lead to health problems later in life.
trigger if one event triggers another, it suddenly makes the second event happen:
The incident triggered a wave of violence.
An earthquake off Java’s southern coast triggered a tsunami.
precipitate formal to make a very serious event happen very suddenly, which will affect a lot of people:
The withdrawal of foreign investment would precipitate an economic crisis.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand precipitated World War I.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

lead to
v. phr. To result in.
Such a heavy arms race can only lead to war.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲