rhyme or reason

noun

: good sense or reason

Examples of rhyme or reason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are the dangling kites and birdcages, the ancient typewriters, the chessboard on a table, the guitar that rests in a corner, a thousand fragile teacups on display, a billion words inside hundreds of books stacked and shelved without rhyme or reason. —

John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024 There seems little rhyme or reason why some goods and services are charged at the standard rate of 20%, and others at 5% or zero, in the full list on Gov.uk. —

The Week Uk, theweek, 24 Apr. 2024 There’s not always a rhyme or reason when a player struggles, Boone added. —

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2024 Rock is the perfect outlet for that, too — for communicating something that can be so primal and entirely consuming without discernible rhyme or reason. —

Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rhyme or reason

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhyme or 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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rhyme or reason was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rhyme or reason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhyme%20or%20reason. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

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