Reason

/ˈɹiː.zən/ · noun

Meaning

A cause:.

Definitions by Sense

1. A cause:
2. (uncountable) Rational thinking (or the capacity for it); the cognitive faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.
3. (obsolete) Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.
4. (mathematics, obsolete) Ratio; proportion.
5. (intransitive) To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational.
6. (intransitive) To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To converse; to compare opinions.
8. (ambitransitive) To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.

Example Sentences

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.

And the specific distinction between man and beast is now, strictly speaking, no longer reason (the lumen naturale of the human animal) but science[…]

The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason. The architect of modern science was himself not very modern. He was obsessed with alchemy.

16th century Edmund Spenser, Lines on his Promised Pension I was promised, on a time, To have reason for my rhyme.

[I]f two Quantities repreſented by the Numbers 20 and 4 be compared, by dividing the Antecedent 20 by the Conſequent 4, the Quotient is 5; but inverting the Terms, by dividing 4 by 20 the Quotient is #92;tfrac#123;4#125;#123;20#125;#61;#92;tfrac#123;1#125;#123;5#125;. By which Quotients are declared the Geometrical Reaſons of the propoſed Quantities, becauſe if the Quotient found be multiplied by the Conſequent, the Product is equal to the Antecedent; for in the former Compariſon 5#92;times4#61;20, in the latter #92;tfrac#123;1#125;#123;5#125;#92;times20#61;4; as Things again are referred to Equality.

"I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data. […]"

Still my spirit was not broken. I indulged the anticipation of escape, and that speedily. It was impossible, I reasoned, that men could be so unjust as to detain me as a slave, when the truth of my case was known.

Synonyms for reason

Antonyms for reason

Related Words

Word Forms

• reasons
• reasoning
• reasoned
• rasen
• raisen
• raysin
• raison

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions