Word family noun reason reasoning reasonableness adjective reasonable ≠ unreasonable reasoned verb reason adverb reasonably ≠ unreasonably
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreasonrea‧son1 /ˈriːzən/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 cause [countable]REASON why something happens, or why someone does somethingreason for People give different reasons for wanting to change jobs.reason why We’d like to know the reason why she didn’t accept the job.reason (that) The reason I called was to ask about the plans for Saturday.reason behind He explained the reasons behind the decision.for reasons of something The bridge is closed for reasons of safety.reason to do something This work gives me a reason to live.there is no reason to do something There is no reason whatsoever to doubt her story.by reason of something formal (=because of something) a person disqualified by reason of age2 good or fair [uncountable]RIGHT/JUSTIFIED a fact that makes it right or fair for someone to do something(no) reason to do something There is no reason to panic. She has reason to feel guilty. We have reason to believe that the goods were stolen. I know I’m late, but that’s no reason to shout at me. Under the circumstances, we had every reason (=had very good reasons) to be suspicious.with (good) reason (=based on something sensible) Natalie was alarmed by the news, and with reason.3 → all the more reason why/to do something4 good judgment [uncountable]SENSIBLE sensible judgment and understanding SYN sense There’s reason in what he says. They’re not prepared to listen to reason (=be persuaded by someone’s sensible advice). There’s no way of making my grandfather see reason (=accept advice and make a sensible decision).5 → within reason6 → go/be beyond (all) reason7 ability to think [uncountable]INTELLIGENT the ability to think, understand, and form judgments that are based on facts the human power of reasonlose your reason old-fashioned (=become mentally ill)8 → no reason → no rhyme or reason at rhyme1(4), → it stands to reason at stand1(32)GRAMMAR: Comparisonreason• You say the reason for something: What do you think was the reason for their success? ✗Don’t say: the reason of their success• You say the reason why something happens: Can you tell me the reason why you did this?cause• You say the cause of something: There will be a police investigation into the cause of the fire. ✗Don’t say: the cause for the fire• You say there is cause for concern/alarm/complaint/worry etc: The doctor said there was no cause for concern.COLLOCATIONSverbshave a reasonWe had many reasons to celebrate.give a reasonNo reason was given for the change.think of a reason/see a reasonI see no reason why it shouldn’t work.I can’t think of any reason why she would want to leave.explain the reasons for somethingExplain the reasons for your choice.adjectivesa good reasonThere is usually a good reason why the price is so cheap. the main reasonThe main reason for the decline in the railways is lack of investment.a major reason (also a big reason informal)His personality was a major reason for his success.A big reason for the decrease in smoking is the ban on cigarette advertising.the real reasonWhat do you think was the real reason for their decision?a valid/legitimate reason (=a good and acceptable reason)An employer can’t fire someone without a valid reason. a compelling reason (=a very good reason for doing something)There are compelling reasons to believe that this is true.a simple reason (=one that is easy to understand)I hate mobile phones, for the simple reason that it is now impossible to get away from them.a logical reasonPeople don’t always have logical reasons for the things they do.the only reasonThe only reason he’s coming tonight is that I said you’d be here.phrasesfor legal/political/medical etc reasonsThe boy cannot be named for legal reasons.for security reasonsThe road will be closed for security reasons.for personal reasonsHe resigned for personal reasons.for sentimental reasons (=because you like someone or something very much)I wanted to keep the picture for sentimental reasons.for obvious reasonsThis arrangement must be kept secret, for obvious reasons.for no apparent reason (=for no obvious reason)He tried to kill me for no apparent reason.for some reason (or other) (also for some unknown reason) (=for a reason that you do not know)For some reason she felt like crying.For some unknown reason, the curtains were always drawn.for reasons best known to somebody (=used when you do not understand someone’s behaviour)For reasons best known to herself, she decided to sell the house. have your reasons (=have a secret reason for doing something)‘Why did he marry her?’ ‘He must have had his reasons.’ THESAURUSreason why something happens, or why someone does somethingWhat was the reason for the delay?I don’t know the reason why he left his last job.cause the reason why something happens, especially something badWhat was the cause of his death?We studied the causes of the First World War. explanation a set of reasons that helps you to understand why something happens, especially when it seems difficult to understandThere are various possible explanations for climate change.Is there any explanation for his behavior?motive a reason that makes someone decide to do something – often used about crimesPolice say that there is no obvious motive for the attack.justification a good reason for doing something that seems wrongThere is never any justification for torture or abuse.They try to use the situation in the Middle East as a justification for killing innocent civilians.There’s no justification for this type of behaviour.grounds a reason that makes it right or fair to do something, especially according to legal, official, or moral rulesThe court will decide if she has grounds for divorce.They claim the war is justified on moral grounds (=because of moral reasons).basis the main ideas or reasons on which something is basedThe doctor makes his decisions purely on the basis of clinical observation.What do you think is the basis for this advice? rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːl $ -ˈnæl/ formal a set of reasons that are used to explain why someone does something in a particular waythe rationale behind the government’s economic reformsThis chapter explains the nature of yearly plans, and provides a rationale for their use.a reason that does not seem believableexcuse a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or not done something that you should have done – especially one that is not completely trueShe said she couldn’t come because she had to work late, but it was just an excuse.a feeble excuse (=one that is hard to believe)pretext especially written an untrue reason that you give for doing or not doing something, in order to hide the real reasonHe would often find some pretext to go out in the evening alone.They used this as a pretext for taking military action. Examples from the Corpus
reason• There's always a reason to have a good laugh.• Political negotiation always involves a balance between reason and force.• As a result of these findings Glaxo stopped clinical trials comparing ranitidine with omeprazole for ethical reasons.• We have every reason to believe he is guilty.• For reasons best known to themselves, my parents were vehemently opposed to the idea.• The school is proud of its record, and with good reason.• One of the main reasons that she looks so good is that she has her own personal stylist.• The main reason she quit is that she was not being paid enough.• There is no reason at all, however, why such states should endure for ever.• There's no reason to doubt what she says.• There's no reason why Jon can't come with us.• I can think of lots of reasons to get married.• This may be one reason for the diversity in the experiences of drinkers.• One reason that computer books have improved and increased is that ownership and awareness of computers has grown.• "Why are you helping her?" "She asked me to. That's the only reason."• The real reason we weren't getting along wasn't so simple.• For security reasons, there were video cameras at the school entrance.• He couldn't provide the money, but for some reason they accepted his guarantee.• No, he isn't here - he had to go back to Poland for some reason.• The changes are about how to discipline and the reasons for requiring obedience to certain rules.• Can anyone explain the reason for the delay?• Dad went off to find out the reason for the delay.• The reason why the economy is growing more slowly is a lack of workers.• The reason why we need these laws is to protect children from violent adults.• There were two reasons behind the company's failure.• In times of war, reason can give way to racism.• This unlikely concoction was one of the more important pharmacological advances in the history of medicine, albeit for the wrong reasons.• What was your reason for leaving your last job?(no) reason to do something• I had every reason to look forward to the August Bank Holiday weekend of 1988.• She had good reason to look very pleased with herself.• A team of master map-makers had reason to call at the Land Registery centre in Birkenhead but they couldn't find it.• There is no reason to be superstitious.• Because there's no damage to property here, there's no reason to act under the Road Traffic Act.• Hopefully I also keep progressing, or really there's no reason to keep going.• There was no reason to believe she would remember me when we happened to wind up on the same flight to Dallas.• The reason to oppose it is that it skews economic behavior.listen to reason• The child is usually too emotionally overwrought to listen to reason.power of reason• The Rationalist views the mind as a finely tempered, neutral instrument and never doubts the authority and power of reason.• What sets mankind apart from the rest of creation is intelligence and the power of reason.• It means that I have no real belief in the power of reason, and sympathy and humanity.• He was sometimes irritated by what he saw as Blanche's deductive ramblings, her obsession with the power of reason.reasonreason2 ●○○ verb 1 [transitive]JUDGE to form a particular judgment about a situation after carefully considering the factsreason (that) They reasoned that other businesses would soon copy the idea.2 [intransitive]THINK ABOUT to think and make judgments the ability to reason → reason something ↔ out → reason with somebody→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
reason• A third element came on the scene: all believers who are capable of reasoning.• As children develop affectively, parallel changes can be observed in their moral reasoning.• These factors influence not only cognitive reasoning but also affective reasoning.• If we can do it, they can do it, the reasoning goes.• They, too, reasoned that Death, having gorged itself on their neighbours, would have long since moved on.• Admittedly they were only nineteen, but surely, he reasoned, there must be more to married life than this?reason (that)• Williams flew from Austin back to California on Friday for personal reasons.• If this has not been the case, it will be up to the individuals to explain the reasons behind this.• Unfortunately, there are many people who think of ideas but, for various reasons, don't voice them.• Agatha, give my Jenny back her house For some reason everyone now looked at the Trunchbull.• An unspoken reason for her attempted escape had also been the growing certainty that this attraction was coming to a head.• No doubt that was one reason for the deep-rooted Labour hostility to devolution, and there were other reasons.• Clinton cited those proposals as a reason for vetoing the Republicans' 1995 balanced-budget plan.• They reasoned that forcing schools to compete for kids would force them to improve their classes.• The reason that the administration is unwilling to act is because Turkey is an ally.• As I have had reason to observe before, the malai medics weren't such bad guys.Origin reason1 (1200-1300) Old French raison, from Latin ratio; → RATIO 