reason
1 of 2noun
rea·son ˈrē-zᵊn 
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
reason
2 of 2verb
reasoned; reasoning ˈrēz-niŋ
ˈrē-zᵊn-iŋ
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
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
reasoner
ˈrēz-nər
noun ˈrē-zᵊn-ər
Synonyms
Noun
- account
- accounting
- argument
- case
- explanation
- rationale
Verb
- conclude
- decide
- deduce
- derive
- extrapolate
- gather
- infer
- judge
- make out
- understand
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Web Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 Rivals old and new, real and imagined, have reason to lock arms and swag surf as one. Kevin Scarbinsky | Special To Al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 The ride has remained closed since the accident; however, the state's investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe, according to the Associated Press. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 Since that time, State Street has said federal regulators have been scrutinizing the transaction, although the particular agency or agencies involved have not been disclosed, nor has the precise reason. Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 To be fair, Richemont did have a valid reason to oppose Bluebell’s board nominee. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 One person familiar with the Mar-a-Lago search said the goal of the comprehensive list was to ensure recovery of all classified records on the property, and not just those that investigators had reason to believe might be there. Devlin Barrett And Carol D. Leonnig, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 One person familiar with the Mar-a-Lago search said the goal of the comprehensive list was to ensure recovery of all classified records on the property, and not just those that investigators had reason to believe might be there. Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 The family believed Greenburg followed someone there because he has never been invited there and had no reason to know where the grandmother lives. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 The July payrolls data may give Fed officials reason to continue their aggressive monetary policy approach against a backdrop of decades-high inflation. Olivia Rockeman, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 Tourism is a fifth of the Greek economy, and leaders reason that visitors who suffer through hot hotel rooms won’t come back. Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 And yet reading this paragraph can lead the human mind – even that of a Google engineer – to imagine GPT-3 as an intelligent being that can reason about peanut butter and pineapple dishes. Kyle Mahowald And Anna A. Ivanova, Ars Technica, 27 June 2022 But his book and its cover invite the reader to imagine a public forum in which a red-state pachyderm and a blue-state equine can reason together peaceably and constructively instead of biting and kicking each other. Martha Bayles, WSJ, 24 June 2022 Sonia Membreno has tried to reason with Bernie, her black labradoodle, with little success. Hau Chu, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Some people reason that a human being’s moral status is not all-or-nothing, but, like human development, a matter of degree. Nancy S. Jecker, The Conversation, 13 May 2022 But Gerd Gigerenzer of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, believes most people don’t reason with logic alone. Womensmedia, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2021 See More
Noun
The railway management had good reason to worry that the Russians would seek its destruction. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 Rivals old and new, real and imagined, have reason to lock arms and swag surf as one. Kevin Scarbinsky | Special To Al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 The ride has remained closed since the accident; however, the state's investigation found no evidence that the park acted illegally or had reason to believe the ride was unsafe, according to the Associated Press. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 Since that time, State Street has said federal regulators have been scrutinizing the transaction, although the particular agency or agencies involved have not been disclosed, nor has the precise reason. Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 To be fair, Richemont did have a valid reason to oppose Bluebell’s board nominee. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 One person familiar with the Mar-a-Lago search said the goal of the comprehensive list was to ensure recovery of all classified records on the property, and not just those that investigators had reason to believe might be there. Devlin Barrett And Carol D. Leonnig, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 One person familiar with the Mar-a-Lago search said the goal of the comprehensive list was to ensure recovery of all classified records on the property, and not just those that investigators had reason to believe might be there. Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 The family believed Greenburg followed someone there because he has never been invited there and had no reason to know where the grandmother lives. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 Verb
Communist Infiltration, resulting in the chronic inability to reason by the general populace. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 The July payrolls data may give Fed officials reason to continue their aggressive monetary policy approach against a backdrop of decades-high inflation. Olivia Rockeman, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 Tourism is a fifth of the Greek economy, and leaders reason that visitors who suffer through hot hotel rooms won’t come back. Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 And yet reading this paragraph can lead the human mind – even that of a Google engineer – to imagine GPT-3 as an intelligent being that can reason about peanut butter and pineapple dishes. Kyle Mahowald And Anna A. Ivanova, Ars Technica, 27 June 2022 But his book and its cover invite the reader to imagine a public forum in which a red-state pachyderm and a blue-state equine can reason together peaceably and constructively instead of biting and kicking each other. Martha Bayles, WSJ, 24 June 2022 Sonia Membreno has tried to reason with Bernie, her black labradoodle, with little success. Hau Chu, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Some people reason that a human being’s moral status is not all-or-nothing, but, like human development, a matter of degree. Nancy S. Jecker, The Conversation, 13 May 2022 But Gerd Gigerenzer of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, believes most people don’t reason with logic alone. Womensmedia, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2021 See More 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
Phrases Containing reason
Kids Definition
reason 1 of 2
noun
rea·son ˈrē-zᵊn
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
: cause entry 1 sense 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.
reason
2 of 2verb
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, The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux3
: to state or ask logically
How, I reasoned, could such a thing happen?
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
reason 1 of 2
noun
1
as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act she gave a good reason for her seemingly suspicious behavior Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- explanation
- argument
- justification
- rationale
- excuse
- case
- accounting
- apology
- account
- appeal
- vindication
- defense
- alibi
- pretext
- plea
- rationalization
- apologia
- pretense
- pretence
- guise
2
as in why
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
- why
- motive
- grounds
- cause
- subject
- wherefore
- consideration
- impetus
- authority
- incentive
- occasion
- account
- inspiration
- stimulus
- antecedent
- instigation
3
as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame what reason do you have for being in such a bad mood? Synonyms & Similar Words
- excuse
- justification
- plea
- apology
- defense
- alibi
- rationale
- pretext
- rationalization
- vindication
- out
- pretence
- pretense
- acknowledgment
- confession
- guise
- extenuation
- cop-out
- whitewash
- acknowledgement
- color
- atonement
- palliation
4
as in cause
someone or something responsible for a result what's the meteorological reason for tornadoes? Synonyms & Similar Words
- cause
- determinant
- causality
- causation
- source
- antecedent
- consideration
- occasion
- impetus
- factor
- incentive
- mother
- origin
- stimulus
- instigation
- be-all and end-all
- inspiration
- spring
- root
- alpha and omega
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- result
- issue
- consequence
- effect
- development
- upshot
- outcome
- corollary
- product
- sequence
- fate
- outgrowth
- fruit
- aftermath
- sequel
- resultant
- ramification
- aftereffect
- conclusion
- repercussion
- end
- denouement
- dénouement
- side effect
- by-product
- side reaction
5
as in sense
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems you'll need to use all of your reason to get out of this tight spot Synonyms & Similar Words
- sense
- intellect
- intelligence
- brain(s)
- gray matter
- talent
- mentality
- intellectuality
- aptitude
- mind
- insight
- brainpower
- wit
- smarts
- wisdom
- perception
- apprehension
- brilliance
- headpiece
- judgment
- discernment
- common sense
- intellectualism
- horse sense
- acumen
- percipience
- eggheadedness
- astuteness
- perspicacity
- judgement
- sagacity
- alertness
- mother wit
- braininess
- discriminability
- highbrowism
- skull
- sapience
- head
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowness
- idiocy
- stupidity
- foolishness
- dullness
- dulness
- density
- simpleness
- feeblemindedness
- senselessness
- imbecility
- doltishness
- denseness
- dumbness
- fatuity
- dopiness
- half-wittedness
6
as in mind
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities was afraid that with all the stress he was under, he'd lose all reason Synonyms & Similar Words
- mind
- sanity
- sense
- saneness
- head
- health
- rationality
- wit(s)
- reasonableness
- marbles
- daylights
- healthfulness
- soundness
- clearheadedness
- healthiness
- normalcy
- lucidity
- wholesomeness
- wisdom
- normality
- lucidness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insanity
- madness
- dementia
- delusion
- mania
- unreason
- derangement
- lunacy
- hallucination
- hysteria
- frenzy
- delirium
7
as in reasoning
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems in a time of national crisis we need to listen to the voice of reason Synonyms & Similar Words
- reasoning
- logic
- sense
- logicality
- argumentation
- logicalness
- intellection
- ratiocination
- rationality
- coherence
- analysis
- persuasiveness
- synthesis
- cogency
- deduction
- syllogism
- dissection
- convincingness
- disputation
- induction
- rationalness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- illogic
- incoherence
- absurdity
- irrationality
- insanity
- preposterousness
- senselessness
- nonsensicalness
- brainlessness
reason
2 of 2verb
1
as in to understand
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information she reasoned that since all of the cakes were on sale for the same price, she might as well pick the biggest one Synonyms & Similar Words
- understand
- derive
- decide
- think
- guess
- conclude
- infer
- speculate
- deduce
- assume
- judge
- extrapolate
- suppose
- surmise
- ascertain
- make out
- read
- draw a conclusion
- conjecture
- gather
- contemplate
- interpret
- rationalize
- construe
- philosophize
- find out
- dope (out)
2
as in to argue
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration he tried to reason that no one in their right mind would buy his brother's old video games, but they were put on the online auction anyway Synonyms & Similar Words
- argue
- contend
- explain
- mention
- justify
- plead
- convince
- claim
- insist
- assert
- suggest
- maintain
- consider
- persuade
- cite
- urge
- propose
- advise
- affirm
- discuss
- recommend
- offer
- give
- advance
- advocate
- enforce
- defend
- debate
- adduce
- aver
- submit
- refute
- support
- rationalize
- avow
- counsel
- counter
- champion
- disprove
- rebut
- espouse
- confute
- avouch
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of reason are cogitate, deliberate, reflect, speculate, and think. While all these words mean "to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference," reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.
able to reason brilliantly in debate
The meanings of cogitate and reason largely overlap; however, cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.
cogitated on the mysteries of nature
The synonyms deliberate and reason are sometimes interchangeable, but deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.
the jury deliberated for five hours
The words reflect and reason can be used in similar contexts, but reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.
reflecting on fifty years of married life
The words speculate and reason are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.
speculated on the fate of the lost explorers
Although the words think and reason have much in common, 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