reasonable

[ ree-zuh-nuh-buhl, reez-nuh- ]

adjective

1. agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical:

   a reasonable choice for chairman.

   Synonyms: equitable, wise, judicious, intelligent

2. not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason; not excessive:

   reasonable terms.

   Synonyms: just, fair, equitable

3. moderate, especially in price; not expensive:

   The coat was reasonable but not cheap.

4. endowed with reason.
5. capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.

reasonable

/ ˈriːzənəbəl /

adjective

1. showing reason or sound judgment
2. having the ability to reason
3. having modest or moderate expectations; not making unfair demands
4. moderate in price; not expensive
5. fair; average

   reasonable weather

Derived Forms

• ˈreasonableness, noun
• ˈreasonably, adverb

Other Words From

• reason·a·ble·ness reason·a·bili·ty noun
• reason·a·bly adverb
• half-reason·a·ble adjective
• half-reason·a·bly adverb
• nonrea·son·a·bili·ty noun
• non·reason·a·ble adjective
• non·reason·a·ble·ness noun
• non·reason·a·bly adverb
• quasi-reason·a·ble adjective
• quasi-reason·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reasonable¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English resonable, from Middle French raisonnable, from Latin ratiōnābilis. See reason, -able

Idioms and Phrases

see beyond a (reasonable) doubt .

Synonym Study

Reasonable, rational refer to the faculty of reasoning. Rational can refer to the reasoning faculty itself or to something derived from that faculty: rational powers; a rational analysis. It can also mean sane or sensible: She was no longer rational; a rational plan. Reasonable most often means sensible: A reasonable supposition is one which appeals to our common sense. See moderate.

Example Sentences

Pay attention to what’s happening and make reasonable adjustments based on your personal experience.

From Outside Online

After years of hearings, and by my unofficial count, five short-term vacation rental proposals, we finally have an opportunity to pass reasonable regulations that deliver 90 percent of what both sides are looking for.

From Voice of San Diego

She doesn’t recall whether her payments or interest rate dropped as a result but said she found the $130 bimonthly payments on her most recent $6,000 loan reasonable.

From ProPublica

It feels to me that a reasonable person looking at the situation will say the thing has only gotten worse.

From Ozy

Both will fit groceries from a reasonable Costco run or one to two human passengers, not including the pilot.

From Outside Online

Again, the reasoning sounds, well, reasonable, and is sourced to a respectable organization, the Samaritans.

From The Daily Beast

The advisor would cite reasonable-sounding sources like haltabuse.org and the FBI.

From The Daily Beast

Expectations, reasonable or unrealistic, remain so even if we impose them on ourselves.

From The Daily Beast

Going at a reasonable clip, my husband and I travel the trails and side roads near our house.

From The Daily Beast

But these must be proven under a signed and sworn statement and judged reasonable by the DOH.

From The Daily Beast

That it is a reasonable and proper thing to ask our statesmen and politicians: what is going to happen to the world?

From Project Gutenberg

Few people, I think, realize that, and fewer still realize the reasonable consequences of that.

From Project Gutenberg

It is something which takes side in the child's breast with the reasonable governor and the laws which he or she administers.

From Project Gutenberg

The charges in general are quite reasonable, though I have paid one or two absurd bills.

From Project Gutenberg

But these were to him things so obvious that he could not conceive any reasonable person doubting them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acceptable
• cheap
• equitable
• fair
• feasible
• honest
• humane
• impartial
• judicious
• justifiable
• legitimate
• modest
• objective
• plausible
• proper
• prudent
• rational
• restrained
• sane
• sensible