rationally

American  

[rash-uh-nl-ee, rash-nl-] / ˈræʃ ə nl i, ˈræʃ nl- /

adverb

1. in a way that is agreeable to and supported by reason; sensibly or logically.

   It’s a bit difficult to explain rationally to your teenager why they are being subjected to a drug test at home.

   Right-brain thinking also includes intuition, which is not understood rationally but is nonetheless highly valued.

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Other Word Forms

• antirationally adverb
• hyperrationally adverb
• nonrationally adverb
• overrationally adverb
• quasi-rationally adverb
• transrationally adverb
• ultrarationally adverb
• unrationally adverb

Etymology

Origin of rationally

rational ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“While we envision a future where space-based data centers become physically feasible, they currently remain rationally improbable,” Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani wrote in a note to clients Thursday morning.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Would that all issues could be addressed so rationally and dispassionately.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

He is bitter and scared, and he has lost the ability to reason rationally, if he ever had that ability.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

She added, “To its credit, the Government does not defend President Trump’s derogatory statements. No one rationally could.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Funny, he thought; even though I know rationally it’s faked, the sound of a false animal burning out its drive-train and power supply ties my stomach in knots.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Related Words

• intelligently
• judiciously
• logically
• reasonably
• wisely