reasons 1 of 2

plural of reason
1
2
as in motives
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing a firm belief that we are here on earth to help others is the reason for her tireless volunteer work

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

reasons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reason

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reasons
Noun
Astrotourism, one of the most popular reasons to travel, is spreading across the country. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026 For reasons that remain unclear, he was subsequently approved to be moved in with other detainees. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 The national media is starting to take note of the Miami Marlins for a variety of reasons. Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 This is perfect for users, like athletes or cyclists who want permanent situational awareness for safety reasons. Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Owner Michelle O’Brien said that rising operation costs and declining attendance were the main reasons behind the closure. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Both Kurtz and Langeliers cited workload and the need for rest during the long Major League Baseball season as reasons for their lack of interest. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 But Joshua Block, the American Civil Liberties Union attorney who argued the case for the West Virginia student challenge that state’s law, saw reasons to be optimistic that the court may not eventually rule that bans are required. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Rishi Sunak, prime minister from 2022 to 2024, is thought to have spent most Fridays working at HM Treasury’s new office in Darlington, County Durham, but for security reasons did not advertise the fact. Ian King, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Verb
How the Fed reasons its way to agreements is as important as the agreements. The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2026 The system reasons underneath, processing infinitely complex 3D scenarios, handling trade clashes, regulations and tradeoffs - learning from user feedback over time to eliminate the need for users to supervise its intelligence. Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasons
Noun
  • Some explanations of bodily difference were obviously wrong, such as physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush’s conviction that the dark skin of African Americans was a disease, derived from leprosy.
    Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • The Mass, rich in velvet and gold-trimmed vestments, chanting and incense, was livestreamed on the society’s YouTube channel, with simultaneous explanations in several languages.
    Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The motives and the methods are also a big part of the puzzle.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • When Brown asked to see the cache of papers, the librarian grilled her about her motives.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Court papers say Doyle used a different first name while dealing with Matthiesen and continued to invent excuses after the painting had been sold, even falsely claiming the buyer had failed to pay him despite already receiving the money.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • Then turn in the most benign of public records requests — access to a calendar, for example — and prepare for weeks of delays and excuses.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The data points to the following leading causes of death in the 1900s.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • On the money front, divorce is among the leading causes of bankruptcy, Wells-Gibson previously told USA TODAY.
    Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • His celebrated Lectures on Law repeatedly returned to natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the proposition that law derives its authority not merely from power but from justice.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Turning a game of two halves into one of four quarters, pausing a sport that derives much of its power and mystique from a clock that never stops, has been universally unpopular.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The birthright citizenship ruling was a win for democracy — and a warning about erasing history, argues columnist Anita Chabria.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Midjourney’s motion argues that it should also be allowed to dig deeper.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • During closing arguments Monday, Deputy District Attorney Daniel Gochnour said GPS data placed Vasquez’s phone at the site of both fires around the time each was reported.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • On Monday afternoon, the judge read the jury charge, giving the panel their instructions for deliberations, and attorneys for both sides made their closing arguments.
    Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • What was the breakdown for and against and what justifications did the majority give for its decision?
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Its role is to expose wrongdoing, illuminate facts, and draw the world’s attention to crimes committed in the name of false causes and manufactured justifications.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reasons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasons. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on reasons

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster