reasonable
Americanadjective
-
agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical.
a reasonable choice for chairman.
- Synonyms:
- wise, judicious, intelligent, equitable
-
not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason; not excessive.
reasonable terms.
-
moderate, especially in price; not expensive.
The coat was reasonable but not cheap.
-
endowed with reason.
-
capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.
adjective
-
showing reason or sound judgment
-
having the ability to reason
-
having modest or moderate expectations; not making unfair demands
-
moderate in price; not expensive
-
fair; average
reasonable weather
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- half-reasonable adjective
- half-reasonably adverb
- nonreasonability noun
- nonreasonable adjective
- nonreasonableness noun
- nonreasonably adverb
- quasi-reasonable adjective
- quasi-reasonably adverb
- reasonability noun
- reasonableness noun
- reasonably adverb
Etymology
Origin of reasonable
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English resonable, from Middle French raisonnable, from Latin ratiōnābilis. See reason, -able
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Guggenheim’s questions about Goddard were succinct, reasonable and articulate.
“For practice,” Trey added, as if that made the idea any more reasonable.
From Literature
It’s the only place of reasonable comfort to sit.
From Literature
"The evidence must establish the platform has not taken reasonable steps to prevent children aged under 16 from having an account," Inman Grant said.
From BBC
But the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office dropped the charges on Feb. 11, citing “no reasonable likelihood of conviction.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
