reason
//ˈɹiːzən//
Forms
- Plural
- reasons
- present (v1)
- reason
- past (v2)
- reasoned
- past participle (v3)
- reasoned
- present participle
- reasoning
- 3rd person singular
- reasons
Definitions
1.A cause:
- The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted.
- He made reason with his boss about taking a day off.
- If you don't give me a reason to go with you, I won't.
2.Rational thinking (or the capacity for it); the cognitive faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.
- Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues.
- The tremendous tragedy in which he had been involved - it was evident he was a fugitive from Weybridge - had driven him to the very verge of his reason.
3.A wall plate.
- I want to know the reason.
- Do you know the reason?
- All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
1.To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational.
2.To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.
3.To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.
- I reasoned the matter with my friend.
- The talk was mainly between Aleck and Murdie, the others crowding eagerly about and putting in a word as they could. Murdie was reasoning good-humoredly, Aleck replying fiercely.
4.To persuade by reasoning or argument.
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #336
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Very common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Uncommon
Related words
Synonyms
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English resoun, reson, from Anglo-Norman raisun (Old French raison), from Latin ratiō, from ratus, past participle of reor (“reckon”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂reh₁- (“to think”), reanalysed root of *h₂er- (“to put together”).