reason
a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reasons for declaring war.
a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action: I dare you to give me one good reason for quitting school!
sufficient cause, as produced by a situation that makes an act, feeling, etc., obviously proper or appropriate: After the mess he made of our yard, we have good reason to look for another landscaper.
the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences: Effective leadership requires a person of reason.
sound judgment; good sense.
normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.
Logic. a premise of an argument.
Philosophy.
the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument.
the power of intelligent and dispassionate thought, or of conduct influenced by such thought.
Kantianism. the faculty by which the ideas of pure reason are created.
to think or argue in a logical manner.
to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.
to urge reasons which should determine belief or action.
to think through logically, as a problem (often followed by out).
to conclude or infer.
to convince, persuade, etc., by reasoning.
to support with reasons.
Idioms about reason
bring (someone) to reason, to induce a change of opinion in (someone) through presentation of arguments; convince: The mother tried to bring her rebellious daughter to reason.
by reason of, on account of; because of: He was consulted about the problem by reason of his long experience.
in / within reason, in accord with reason; justifiable; proper: She tried to keep her demands in reason.
stand to reason, to be clear, obvious, or logical: With such an upbringing it stands to reason that the child will be spoiled.
with reason, with justification; properly: The government is concerned about the latest crisis, and with reason.
Origin of reason
1synonym study For reason
usage note For reason
A similar charge of redundancy is made against the reason why, which is also a well-established idiom: The reason why the bill failed to pass was the defection of three key senators.
Other words for reason
Other words from reason
- rea·son·er, noun
- non·rea·son, noun
- non·rea·son·er, noun
- outreason, verb (used with object)
- sub·rea·son, noun
Words Nearby reason
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use reason in a sentence
We have reason to believe these kinds of viruses spread better when it’s cold.
Today, Feynman’s “dippy process” has become as ubiquitous in physics as calculus, and its mechanics reveal the reasons for some of the discipline’s greatest successes and its current challenges.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics | Charlie Wood | September 17, 2020 | Quanta MagazineThere are a number of reasons why a particular virus might be more active during certain times of year.
COVID-19 may one day come and go like the flu, but we’re not there yet | Kate Baggaley | September 16, 2020 | Popular-ScienceComparing these results with 2016 exit polling is tricky for a few reasons.
The key shifts in Minnesota and Wisconsin that have improved Biden’s chances of victory | Philip Bump | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostOne of the reasons for this behavior is that consumers who would ordinarily visit stores are buying online to avoid potential exposure to the virus.
Google boosting visibility of ‘nearby’ product inventory with new Shopping features | Greg Sterling | September 16, 2020 | Search Engine Land
When twelve people are killed by violence, whoever they are, for whatever reason, that is a tragedy and a waste.
The research literature, too, asks these questions, and not without reason.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe reason we were liberals is we were against oppression.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’ | Lloyd Grove | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThere is a larger reason, beyond the airlines themselves, why Lion Air and 61 other Indonesian airlines are on this black list.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTYet, for god knows what reason, his name is never brought up in the “Great American Filmmaker” conversation.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’ | Marlow Stern | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTo Americans Mrs. Wright is interesting by reason of her patriotism, which amounted to a passion.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementWordsworth has illustrated how an unwise and importunate demand for a reason from a child may drive him into invention.
Children's Ways | James SullyAnd she fell to scolding him in the way he usually loved,—but at the moment found less stimulating for some reason.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodThe reason we associate rhythm with the significance of time is that rhythm is a measurer of time.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickThat she had her definite reason he knew, as a woman knows when another woman is wearing a last year's gown.
Bella Donna | Robert Hichens
British Dictionary definitions for reason
/ (ˈriːzən) /
the faculty of rational argument, deduction, judgment, etc
sound mind; sanity
a cause or motive, as for a belief, action, etc
an argument in favour of or a justification for something
philosophy the intellect regarded as a source of knowledge, as contrasted with experience
logic grounds for a belief; a premise of an argument supporting that belief
by reason of because of
in reason or within reason within moderate or justifiable bounds
it stands to reason it is logical or obvious: it stands to reason that he will lose
listen to reason to be persuaded peaceably
reasons of State political justifications for an immoral act
(when tr, takes a clause as object) to think logically or draw (logical conclusions) from facts or premises
(intr usually foll by with) to urge or seek to persuade by reasoning
(tr often foll by out) to work out or resolve (a problem) by reasoning
Origin of reason
1usage For reason
Derived forms of reason
- reasoner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with reason
see by reason of; in reason; it stands to reason; listen to reason; lose one's mind (reason); rhyme or reason; see reason; stand to reason; with reason.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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