Definitions for reason
ˈri zənrea·son

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. reason, groundnoun

   a rational motive for a belief or action

   "the reason that war was declared"; "the grounds for their declaration"

2. reasonnoun

   an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon

   "the reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly"

3. reason, understanding, intellectnoun

   the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination

   "we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil"

4. rationality, reason, reasonablenessnoun

   the state of having good sense and sound judgment

   "his rationality may have been impaired"; "he had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions"

5. cause, reason, groundsnoun

   a justification for something existing or happening

   "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice"

6. reasonverb

   a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion

   "there is reason to believe he is lying"

7. reason, reason out, concludeverb

   decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion

   "We reasoned that it was cheaper to rent than to buy a house"

8. argue, reasonverb

   present reasons and arguments

9. reasonverb

   think logically

   "The children must learn to reason"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reasonnoun

   a cause:

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

2. reasonnoun

   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.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

3. reasonnoun

   something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

4. reasonnoun

   due exercise of the reasoning faculty

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

5. reasonnoun

   ratio; proportion.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

6. reasonverb

   To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

7. reasonverb

   Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

8. reasonverb

   To converse; to compare opinions.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

9. reasonverb

   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.

   Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

10. reasonverb

    To support with reasons, as a request.

    Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

11. reasonverb

    To persuade by reasoning or argument.

    to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan

    Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

12. reasonverb

    To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons.

    to reason down a passion

    Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

13. reasonverb

    To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument.

    to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon

    Etymology: From raisun ( raison), from rationem, an accusative of ratio, from ratus, past participle of reor.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reasonnoun

   a thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

2. Reasonnoun

   the faculty or capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

3. Reasonnoun

   due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

4. Reasonnoun

   ratio; proportion

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

5. Reasonnoun

   to exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

6. Reasonnoun

   hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

7. Reasonnoun

   to converse; to compare opinions

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

8. Reasonverb

   to arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

9. Reasonverb

   to support with reasons, as a request

   Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

10. Reasonverb

    to persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan

    Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

11. Reasonverb

    to overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; -- with down; as, to reason down a passion

    Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

12. Reasonverb

    to find by logical processes; to explain or justify by reason or argument; -- usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon

    Etymology: [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reason

   Reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things, applying logic, for establishing and verifying facts, and changing or justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing information. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, mathematics, and art, and is normally considered to be a definitive characteristic of human nature. The concept of reason is sometimes referred to as rationality and sometimes as discursive reason, in opposition to intuitive reason. Reason or "reasoning" is associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect. Reason, like habit or intuition, is one of the ways by which thinking comes from one idea to a related idea. For example, it is the means by which rational beings understand themselves to think about cause and effect, truth and falsehood, and what is good or bad. In contrast to reason as an abstract noun, a reason is a consideration which explains or justifies some event, phenomenon or behaviour. The ways in which human beings reason through argument are the subject of inquiries in the field of logic. Reason is closely identified with the ability to self-consciously change beliefs, attitudes, traditions, and institutions, and therefore with the capacity for freedom and self-determination.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reason

   rē′zn, n. an idea which supports or justifies an act or belief: a motive: proof: excuse: cause: an explanation: the faculty of the mind by which man draws conclusions, and determines right and truth: the exercise of reason: just view of things: right conduct: propriety: justice: that which is conformable to reason: (logic) a premise placed after its conclusion.—v.i. to exercise the faculty of reason: to deduce inferences from premises: to argue: to debate: (B.) to converse.—v.t. to examine or discuss: to debate: to persuade by reasoning.—adj. Rea′sonable, endowed with reason: rational: acting according to reason: agreeable to reason: just: not excessive: moderate.—n. Rea′sonableness.—adv. Rea′sonably.—ns. Rea′soner; Rea′soning, act of reasoning: that which is offered in argument: course of argument.—adj. Rea′sonless.—n. Rea′son-piece, a wall plate.—By reason of, on account of: in consequence of; Principle of sufficient reason, the proposition that nothing happens without a sufficient reason why it should be as it is and not otherwise; Pure reason, reason absolutely independent of experience. [Fr. raison—L. ratio, rationis—rēri, ratus, to think.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Reason

   in philosophy is more than mere understanding or reasoning power; it is the constitutive and regulative soul of the universe assumed to live and breathe in the inner life or soul of man, as that develops itself in the creations of human genius working in accord with and revealing the deep purpose of the Maker.

2. Reason

   in German Vernunft, defined by Dr. Stirling "the faculty that unites and brings together, as against the understanding," in German Verstand, "the faculty that separates, and only in separation knows," and that is synthetic of the whole, whereof the latter is merely analytic of the parts, sundered from the whole, and without idea of the whole, the former being the faculty which construes the diversity of the universe into a unity or the one, whereas the latter dissolves the unity into diversity or the many.

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reason

   The arithmetic of the emotions.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reason

   A truthful explanation.

   The reason for the change is simple as we all know what we agreed.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 6, 2020  

2. reason

   The human quality of sane, intelligent, logical thought, feeling, knowing, understanding, expression, mind, soul, subconscious, conscience, consciousness and spirit.

   He has just reason and is so intelligent and informed.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 12, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. reason

   Song lyrics by reason -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by reason on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Explanation
   • Justification
   • Present
   • Rational Motive
   • Sanity
   • Think

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reason' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #548

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reason' in Written Corpus Frequency: #493

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'reason' in Nouns Frequency: #88

How to pronounce reason?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say reason in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of reason in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of reason in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of reason in a Sentence

1. Dana Sabraw:

   The reunifications should continue in accordance with Commander White plan and the idea that Commander White plan would slow down or stop for other logistical reason due to a stay of trying to deport families immediately upon reunification, that's not an option, that just shouldn't be happening. There's no reason that I can think of where that can result in unhinging the reunifications underway. ... If space is an issue, the government will have to make space.

2. Anand James:

   The market has been on a downward trend during the last couple of days and that is not surprising because during the last two years, we have seen the fortnight preceding the budget to be a cautious time this year, we have approached the budget on a high and that is all the more reason for traders to take some money off the table.

3. Pete Buttigieg:

   On one hand, I believe in conviction politics. I think you need to forcefully defend your values and explain why you believe in the things you believe in, but one reason that you'll hear me not being too doctrinaire about some of these policy groups is an awareness that the reality in government is you're going to be adjusting the finer points of the policy, anyway.

4. Quentin James:

   We just don't trust the government, and I don't think government has given us a reason to trust them.

5. Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge:

   I can't currently think of any reason why Pep would leave us, maybe we'll just meet for an espresso and clear everything.

Images & Illustrations of reason

Popularity rank by frequency of use