reason

[ ree-zuhn ]

See synonyms for reason on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

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.

verb (used with object)

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

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English resoun, reisun (noun), from Old French reisun, reson, from Latin ratiōn- (stem of ratiō ) ratio

synonym study For reason

1. Reason, cause, motive are terms for a circumstance (or circumstances) which brings about or explains certain results. A reason is an explanation of a situation or circumstance which made certain results seem possible or appropriate: The reason for the robbery was the victim's display of his money. The cause is the way in which the circumstances produce the effect, that is, make a specific action seem necessary or desirable: The cause was the robber's extreme need of money. A motive is the hope, desire, or other force which starts the action (or an action) in an attempt to produce specific results: The motive was to get money to buy food for his family.

usage note For reason

The construction reason is because is criticized in a number of usage guides: The reason for the long delays was because the costs greatly exceeded the original estimates. One objection to this construction is based on its redundancy: the word because (literally, by cause ) contains within it the meaning of reason; thus saying the reason is because is like saying “The cause is by cause,” which would never be said. A second objection is based on the claim that because can introduce only adverbial clauses and that reason is requires completion by a noun clause. Critics would substitute that for because in the offending construction: The reason for the long delays in completing the project was that the costs. … Although the objections described here are frequently raised, reason is because is still common in almost all levels of speech and occurs often in edited writing as well.
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

1	purpose, end, aim, object, objective
3	excuse, rationalization
4	understanding, intellect, mind, intelligence
11	persuade

See synonyms for reason on Thesaurus.com

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reason in a sentence

There are reasons that European countries tend to avoid fluoride.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers | Michael Schulson | July 27, 2016 | THE DAILY BEAST
I was drawn to The Class for different reasons—chiefly, the pipe dream of achieving a tighter and tauter backside.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze | Lizzie Crocker | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Yes, publicizing tragedy gets clicks, gets ad revenue, gets notoriety, and can be done for all the wrong reasons.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism | Arthur Chu | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He refused to sign the Constitution, for good reasons and bad.
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations | Kevin Bleyer | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Instead they talk about doing everything for health reasons.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail | Carrie Arnold | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

He recounts at much length the reasons for which he supposes the governor arrested him.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
The exchanges had closed in previous years, but never for the reasons which now controlled them.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
For these reasons we keep strict and careful watch over them, since the suspicions conceived of them have been often verified.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
While secretly countenancing every attack on the Marshal, the Emperor, for family reasons, was loth to come to an open breach.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The idea was seriously considered but, for various reasons, abandoned.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for reason

reason

/ (ˈriːzən) /

noun

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

verb

(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

C13: from Old French reisun, from Latin ratiō reckoning, from rērī to think

usage For reason

The expression the reason is because… should be avoided. Instead one should say either this is because… or the reason is that…

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

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.

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