reason
/ˈriː.zən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A reason is a cause, explanation, or main purpose for something. It answers why something happens or why someone does it.
- What was the reason for your delay?
- There is a good reason to leave early.
- She gave no reason for her decision.
verb
To reason is to think carefully and form a judgment from facts or logic. It can also mean to talk with someone in order to persuade them.
- Try to reason from the evidence.
- I reasoned that he was probably late.
- We reasoned with her, but she refused.
Adinary Nuance
Reason is broader than cause. A cause is what makes something happen, while a reason is the explanation or purpose we give for it. It is also broader than motive, which usually means a personal inner drive, especially for actions.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lý do
- Spanish
- razón
- Chinese
- 原因
- Japanese
- 理由
- Korean
- 이유
Etymology
Reason comes from Old French raison, from Latin ratio, meaning 'calculation, judgment, or account.' It entered English in the Middle Ages and kept both 'explanation' and 'thinking logically' senses.
Common phrases
for good reasonthe reason whyreason forreason and logic
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between reason and cause?
- A cause makes something happen. A reason explains why it happened or why someone did it.
- Is reason formal or informal?
- Reason is neutral. It is common in both everyday speech and academic writing.
- Can reason mean 'think logically'?
- Yes. As a verb, reason means to think carefully and draw a conclusion.
- Is 'the reason is because' correct?
- It is common in speech, but many writers avoid it. Use 'the reason is that' instead.