Definition of “reason” - English Dictionary

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“reason” in English

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reasonnoun

uk ​ /ˈriː.zən/ us ​ /ˈriː.zən/

reason noun (EXPLANATION)

A2 [ C or U ] the cause of an event or situation or something that provides an excuse or explanation:

The reason for the disaster was engine failure, not human error.
[ + question word ] The reason why grass is green was a mystery to the little boy.
[ + (that) ] The reason (that) I'm calling is to ask a favour.
not standard The reason I walked out was because I was bored.
[ + to infinitive ] The police have (every good) reason to believe that he is guilty.
She was furious, and with reason (= with good cause).
For some reason/For reasons best known to himself (= for reasons no one else knows about) he's decided to leave his job.
by reason of formal

› because of:

He's always asked to these occasions by reason of his position.

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reason noun (JUDGMENT)

› [ U ] the ability of a healthy mind to think and make judgments, especially based on practical facts:

We humans believe that we are the only animals to have the power of reason.
mainly UK old-fashioned He lost his reason (= became mentally ill) when both his parents were killed in the crash.
within reason

C2 within the limits of what is acceptable and possible:

We can wear anything we like to the office, within reason.

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Grammar

Reason thatWe use reason that before a clause. We often omit that, especially in statements. Reason that is less common and slightly more formal than reason why: …
Reason + to-infinitiveWe can use reason with a to-infinitive: …
Reason …
Reason forWe use reason for + noun phrase, not reason of: …
Reason whyWe use reason why before a clause. We often omit why, especially in statements: …

Idiom(s)

listen to reason

reasonverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈriː.zən/ us ​ /ˈriː.zən/

Phrasal verb(s)

reason with sb

(Definition of “reason” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“reason” in American English

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reasonnoun

us ​ /ˈri·zən/

reason noun (EXPLANATION)

› [ C/U ] the cause of an event or situation, or something suggested as an explanation:

[ C ] She had never stopped by before for any reason.
[ C ] There must be a reason why she’s not here yet.
[ U ] Adams had good reason to fire Pickering.

reason noun (JUDGMENT)

› [ U ] the ability to think and make judgments, esp. good judgments:

Meditation seemed to have improved her ability to reason.

reasonverb

us ​ /ˈri·zən/

reason verb (JUDGE)

› to think about and make a good judgment about:

[ + (that) clause ] He reasoned (that) he had only four or five years left as an athlete.

reason verb (EXPLAIN)

› to argue with and try to persuade someone:

[ I ] Grace kept her voice gentle, as if she were reasoning with a child.
reasoning
noun [ U ] us ​ /ˈri·zə·nɪŋ/

›

I didn’t follow her reasoning.

(Definition of “reason” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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