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reason

noun rea·son \ ˈrē-zᵊn \
|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of reason

1 a : a statement offered in explanation or justification
  • gave reasons that were quite satisfactory
b : a rational ground or motive
  • a good reason to act soon
c : a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense; especially : something (such as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact
  • the reasons behind her client's action
d : the thing that makes some fact intelligible : cause
  • the reason for earthquakes
  • the real reason why he wanted me to stay
  • —Graham Greene
2 a (1) : the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking especially in orderly rational ways : intelligence
(2) : proper exercise of the mind
(3) : sanity
b : the sum of the intellectual powers
3 archaic : treatment that affords satisfaction
— in reason
: rightly, justifiably
— within reason
: within reasonable limits
— with reason
: with good cause

See reason defined for English-language learners

See reason defined for kids

Examples of reason in a Sentence

  1. I gave a reason for my absence.

  2. Is there a reason for your strange behavior?

  3. There is a reason why they don't want to come.

  4. I can't give you the report for the simple reason that it isn't yet finished.

  5. She explained her reasons for deciding to change jobs.

  6. He wanted to know the reason for their decision.

  7. Give me one good reason why I should believe you.

  8. For obvious reasons, we can't do that yet.

  9. For reasons of space, some of the charts and graphs have been omitted from the article.

  10. She resigned for personal reasons.

Recent Examples of reason from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reason.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reason

Middle English resoun, from Anglo-French raisun, from Latin ration-, ratio reason, computation, from reri to calculate, think; probably akin to Goth rathjo account, explanation

reason Synonyms

Synonyms

antecedent, causality, causation, cause, occasion;

Antonyms

aftereffect, aftermath, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot;

Near Antonyms

ramification;

denouement (also dénouement), repercussion;

conclusion, end;

by-product, side effect (also side reaction);

Related Words

consideration, determinant, factor;

alpha and omega, be-all and end-all;

impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus;

mother, origin, root, source, spring;

2

reason

verb

Definition of reason

reasoned; reasoning play \ˈrēz-niŋ, ˈrē-zᵊn-iŋ\
intransitive verb
1 a obsolete : to take part in conversation, discussion, or argument
b : to talk with another so as to influence actions or opinions
  • can't reason with them
2 : to use the faculty of reason so as to arrive at conclusions
transitive verb
1 archaic : to justify or support with reasons
2 : to persuade or influence by the use of reason
3 : to discover, formulate, or conclude by the use of reason
  • a carefully reasoned analysis
—

reasoner

play \ˈrēz-nər, ˈrē-zᵊn-ər\ noun

See reason defined for English-language learners

Examples of reason in a Sentence

  1. He lost the ability to reason.

  2. He reasoned that both statements couldn't be true.

  3. She reasoned that something must be wrong.

Recent Examples of reason from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reason.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of reason

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year
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reason Synonyms

Synonyms

argue, assert, contend, maintain, plead;

Related Words

adduce, cite, mention;

claim, insist;

affirm, aver, avouch, avow;

advance, give, offer, propose, submit;

advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge;

convince, persuade;

advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support;

explain, justify, rationalize;

consider, debate, discuss;

confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute;

Synonym Discussion of reason

think, cogitate, reflect, reason, speculate, deliberate mean to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference. think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.
    • teaches students how to think
cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.
    • cogitated on the mysteries of nature
reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.
    • reflecting on fifty years of married life
reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.
    • able to reason brilliantly in debate
speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.
    • speculated on the fate of the lost explorers
deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.
    • the jury deliberated for five hours

REASON Defined for English Language Learners

reason

noun

Definition of reason for English Language Learners

  • : a statement or fact that explains why something is the way it is, why someone does, thinks, or says something, or why someone behaves a certain way

  • : a fact, condition, or situation that makes it proper or appropriate to do something, feel something, etc.

  • : the power of the mind to think and understand in a logical way

reason

verb

Definition of reason for English Language Learners

  • : to think in a logical way

  • : to form (a conclusion or judgment) by thinking logically

REASON Defined for Kids

1

reason

noun rea·son \ ˈrē-zᵊn \

Definition of reason for Students

1 : a statement given to explain a belief or an act
  • My parents gave a reason for my absence.
2 : a fact that makes something right or fair to do
  • I have reasons for what I did.
3 : 1cause 1
  • The child wanted to know the reason for rain.
4 : the power to think and understand in a logical way
5 : a fair and sensible way of thinking about something
  • He won't listen to reason.
2

reason

verb

Definition of reason for Students

reasoned; reasoning
1 : to think in a logical way
2 : to talk with another in a sensible way so as to influence his or her actions or opinions
  • “It's a fear you can't be … reasoned out of.”
  • —Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie
3 : to state or ask logically
  • How, I reasoned, could such a thing happen?

Law Dictionary

reason

noun rea·son

legal Definition of reason

1 : an underlying ground, justification, purpose, motive, or inducement
  • required to provide reasons for the termination in writing
2 a : the faculty of comprehending, inferring, or distinguishing especially in a fair and orderly way
b : the proper and sane exercise of the mind

Learn More about reason

  1. See words that rhyme with reason Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reason Spanish Central: Translation of reason Nglish: Translation of reason for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reason for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reason

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