How to Use probable cause in a Sentence

probable cause

noun
Definition of probable causenext
  • The lawyer argued that there was a lack of probable cause for a search warrant.
  • The police had probable cause to arrest him.
  • Stay hydrated everyone, and read on for more, including the probable cause of more than 100 earthquakes in Texas recently.
    — Janet Wilson, USA TODAY, 31 July 2024
  • The arrests followed several weeks of surveillance and developing probable cause for search warrants, resulting in the arrests, police said.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2024
  • The judge found probable cause exists to hold Morales in custody on the charges.
    — Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 20 Nov. 2023
  • So, at the end of the day, there wasn't enough probable cause legally to arrest him.
    — Tracy Smith, CBS News, 18 May 2024
  • Another 2-year-old child was in the home at the time, the probable cause statement said.
    — Olivia Niland, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Green found probable cause to hold Howell on the felony charges.
    — Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2023
  • That’s the evidence used for probable cause to arrest and charge the killer.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022
  • There's enough probable cause there to get a search warrant.
    — Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2023
  • The board concluded that the crash’s probable cause was the buildup of ice on the elevated stretch of the roadway.
    — Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
  • The judge said probable cause was the standard of proof for a grand jury to indict in the rejection.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2023
  • Well, the important thing is that the grand jury found probable cause.
    — ABC News, 2 Apr. 2023
  • The judge found probable cause and Steven is being held without bond.
    — Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 15 Dec. 2023
  • The case went back to court where a probable cause hearing was used to charge Rodriguez anew and start the criminal case over.
    — Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2022
  • At least eight jurors had to agree that there was probable cause to indict.
    — Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024
  • The pair met at a restaurant and Loughren, with a wire, got enough info for Cullen to be arrested on probable cause.
    — Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 27 Oct. 2022
  • But a final report, which will include the crash’s probable cause, could take up to two years to publish.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2024
  • His next court date is July 31 for a probable cause hearing.
    — Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2023
  • Hammond was found laying on the ground of the parking lot with a pool of blood surrounding her head, the probable cause statement said.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2022
  • The police did not explain how Pruitt came to their attention in the case or say how the probable cause was determined.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2022
  • The court set the probable cause conference for March 19 and the preliminary exam for March 26.
    — Don Reid, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Police found and removed 16 knives, a dagger, and a sword from their home, but did not find probable cause to arrest him at that time.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023
  • Kendra Conley wrote in an affidavit of probable cause filed in court.
    — Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
  • The probable cause statement lays out the evidence against Brenner.
    — Kyani Reid, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2023
  • The men were indicted after a Canyon County grand jury found there was probable cause to charge them.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 9 May 2024
  • Louis-Victor has been arraigned and a probable cause hearing is set for July 18.
    — Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2023
  • The details of what led to the mass shooting were included in probable cause affidavits, which lay out why someone has been charged with a crime.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024
  • The next court hearing in connection with their case, a probable cause conference, is set for May 16.
    — Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
  • The clerk will determine whether this is probable cause to issue charges, police said.
    — Zenebou Sylla, CNN, 12 Oct. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'probable cause.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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