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
: the thing that makes some fact intelligible : cause
the reason for earthquakes
the real reason why he wanted me to stay—
Graham Greene
Graham Greene
d
: 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
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
reasoned; reasoning
ˈrēz-niŋ 
ˈrē-zᵊn-iŋ
1
: to use the faculty of reason so as to arrive at conclusions
2
a
: to talk with another so as to influence actions or opinions
can't reason with them
b
obsolete
: to take part in conversation, discussion, or argument
1
: to discover, formulate, or conclude by the use of reason
a carefully reasoned analysis
2
: to persuade or influence by the use of reason
3
archaic
: to justify or support with reasons
Synonyms
Examples of reason in a Sentence
Noun
I gave a reason for my absence.
Is there a reason for your strange behavior?
There is a reason why they don't want to come.
I can't give you the report for the simple reason that it isn't yet finished.
She explained her reasons for deciding to change jobs.
He wanted to know the reason for their decision.
Give me one good reason why I should believe you.
For obvious reasons, we can't do that yet.
For reasons of space, some of the charts and graphs have been omitted from the article.
She resigned for personal reasons.
Verb
He lost the ability to reason.
He reasoned that both statements couldn't be true.
She reasoned that something must be wrong.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebMary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
One of the reasons is the level of investment in quantum computing.
—Jim McGregor, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
For this reason, evidence of ancient winemaking has been found around the world.
—Alex Mayyasi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
Our followers and customers who are young are discovering this format for those reasons.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023
And the reasons for this are obvious: in a world that increasingly emphasizes staking out a claim to one’s own comfort or one’s own space, children are antithetical.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
No reason was given and his line of credit also was shut down.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023
But in today’s furious workplace environment of shifting skill needs, mergers and acquisitions, short-term projects and so many other reasons — most often at no fault of the worker — your employment suddenly came to an end.
—Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
Experts say the situation has been compounded for a number of reasons, including insurers arguing that the risk of doing business there is just too high due to the elevated risk of wildfires and California laws that restrict how the insurance companies can price out their policies.
—Lindsey Griswold, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Justin George, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
All that was left for USC was to reason how a season that started with such high hopes had come to this.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
In Washington, Ngo took the matter up with one of Hawley’s policy advisers, reasoning that the ultra-Trumpian senator might have the president’s ear.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2023
McNeil says the emphasis is on concepts and reasoning rather than putting importance on getting the answer correct.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023
The optimist, in this case, might reason that only a handful of big plays are standing in the way of USC’s defense finding its full potential.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
President Joe Biden already threatened to veto the bill earlier this month, reasoning that the measure falls flat of the spending levels negotiated in the debt limit deal between the White House and House Republicans and has a number of riders igniting ire from Democrats.
—Nancy Vu, Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2023
Such links, its supporters reasoned, would effectively bypass the Palestinians, making that conflict a manageable sideshow.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023
See More
Noun
Life expectancy dropped in 2020 in every US state, mainly due to COVID: CDC
The report also looked at reasons for the increases in life expectancy.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
One of the reasons is the level of investment in quantum computing.
—Jim McGregor, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
For this reason, evidence of ancient winemaking has been found around the world.
—Alex Mayyasi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
Our followers and customers who are young are discovering this format for those reasons.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023
And the reasons for this are obvious: in a world that increasingly emphasizes staking out a claim to one’s own comfort or one’s own space, children are antithetical.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
No reason was given and his line of credit also was shut down.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023
But in today’s furious workplace environment of shifting skill needs, mergers and acquisitions, short-term projects and so many other reasons — most often at no fault of the worker — your employment suddenly came to an end.
—Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
Experts say the situation has been compounded for a number of reasons, including insurers arguing that the risk of doing business there is just too high due to the elevated risk of wildfires and California laws that restrict how the insurance companies can price out their policies.
—Lindsey Griswold, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Verb
The board reasoned that most suburban commuters have their commutes subsidized by their employer, especially the federal government.
—Justin George, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
All that was left for USC was to reason how a season that started with such high hopes had come to this.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
The ability to count indefinitely beyond fingers or body parts; to read, write, store, and learn ideas through text; the tendency to reason abstractly with syllogisms and enthymemes and approximations of formal logic – all were tools for thinking that were culturally created and then transmitted.
—Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
In Washington, Ngo took the matter up with one of Hawley’s policy advisers, reasoning that the ultra-Trumpian senator might have the president’s ear.
—Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2023
McNeil says the emphasis is on concepts and reasoning rather than putting importance on getting the answer correct.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023
The optimist, in this case, might reason that only a handful of big plays are standing in the way of USC’s defense finding its full potential.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
President Joe Biden already threatened to veto the bill earlier this month, reasoning that the measure falls flat of the spending levels negotiated in the debt limit deal between the White House and House Republicans and has a number of riders igniting ire from Democrats.
—Nancy Vu, Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2023
Such links, its supporters reasoned, would effectively bypass the Palestinians, making that conflict a manageable sideshow.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reason.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English resoun, from Anglo-French raisun, from Latin ration-, ratio "reckoning, calculation, explanation," from reri "to calculate, think;" probably akin to Goth rathjo "account, explanation"
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2b
Time Traveler
The first known use of reason was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing reason
Articles Related to reason
Dictionary Entries Near reason
Cite this Entry
“Reason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reason. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
reason
1 of 2 noun
rea·son
ˈrēz-ᵊn
1
a
: a statement given to explain a belief or act
gave a reason for my absence
b
: a good basis
reasons for thinking life may exist on other planets
c
: the thing that makes some fact understandable : cause
wanted to know the reason for earthquakes
2
a
: the power to think : intelligence
b
: a sound mind
reason
2 of 2 verb
reasoned; reasoning
ˈrēz-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to talk with another in order to cause a change of mind
reason with someone
2
a
: to use the power of reason
b
: to state or conclude by use of reason
reasoned that both statements couldn't be true
Legal Definition
reason
noun
rea·son
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
More from Merriam-Webster on 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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