Which term describes the outcome of an action or cause?

The term that best describes the outcome of an action or cause is "effect." In the context of cause and effect relationships, the "effect" refers specifically to what happens as a direct result of a particular cause. For example, if a plant does not receive water (the cause), the effect might be that it wilts or dies.

This term is fundamental in understanding relationships in literature and science, where actions lead to certain results. While "result" also indicates something that comes after a cause, "effect" is more commonly used to highlight the specific outcome in a cause-and-effect scenario. "Process" refers to a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end, and "impact" denotes a strong influence or effect but does not specifically capture the idea of an outcome as directly as "effect" does.