I. rea ‧ son 1 S1 W1 /ˈriːz ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reason , ↑ reasoning , ↑ reasonableness ; adjective : ↑ reasonable ≠ ↑ unreasonable , ↑ reasoned ; verb : ↑ reason ; adverb : ↑ reasonably ≠ ↑ unreasonably ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: raison , from Latin ratio ; ⇨ ↑ ratio ]
1 . CAUSE [countable] why something happens, or why someone does something
reason for
People give different reasons for wanting to change jobs.
reason why
We’d like to know the reason why she didn’t accept the job.
reason (that)
The reason I called was to ask about the plans for Saturday.
reason behind
He explained the reasons behind the decision.
for reasons of something
The bridge is closed for reasons of safety.
reason to do something
This work gives me a reason to live.
there is no reason to do something
There is no reason whatsoever to doubt her story.
by reason of something formal (=because of something)
a person disqualified by reason of age
► Do not say ‘the reason of’ something. Say the reason for something. Do not say ‘the reason because’ something happens. Say the reason why/that something happens.
2 . GOOD OR FAIR [uncountable] a fact that makes it right or fair for someone to do something
(no) reason to do something
There is no reason to panic.
She has reason to feel guilty.
We have reason to believe that the goods were stolen.
I know I’m late, but that’s no reason to shout at me.
Under the circumstances, we had every reason (=had very good reasons) to be suspicious.
with (good) reason (=based on something sensible)
Natalie was alarmed by the news, and with reason.
3 . all the more reason why/to do something spoken used to say that what has just been mentioned is an additional reason for doing what you have suggested:
But surely that’s all the more reason to act quickly.
4 . GOOD JUDGMENT [uncountable] sensible judgment and understanding SYN sense :
There’s reason in what he says.
They’re not prepared to listen to reason (=be persuaded by someone’s sensible advice) .
There’s no way of making my grandfather see reason (=accept advice and make a sensible decision) .
5 . within reason within sensible limits:
You can go anywhere you want, within reason.
6 . go/be beyond (all) reason to be more than is acceptable or reasonable:
Their demands go beyond all reason.
7 . ABILITY TO THINK [uncountable] the ability to think, understand, and form judgments that are based on facts:
the human power of reason
lose your reason old-fashioned (=become mentally ill)
8 . no reason spoken used when someone asks you why you are doing something and you do not want to tell them:
‘Why d’you want to go that way?‘ ’Oh, no reason.'
⇨ no rhyme or reason at ↑ rhyme 1 (4), ⇨ it stands to reason at ↑ stand 1 (32)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a reason
We had many reasons to celebrate.
▪ give a reason
No reason was given for the change.
▪ think of a reason/see a reason
I see no reason why it shouldn’t work.
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I can’t think of any reason why she would want to leave.
▪ explain the reasons for something
Explain the reasons for your choice.
■ adjectives
▪ a good reason
There is usually a good reason why the price is so cheap.
▪ the main reason
The main reason for the decline in the railways is lack of investment.
▪ a major reason ( also a big reason informal )
His personality was a major reason for his success.
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A big reason for the decrease in smoking is the ban on cigarette advertising.
▪ the real reason
What do you think was the real reason for their decision?
▪ a valid/legitimate reason (=a good and acceptable reason)
An employer can’t fire someone without a valid reason.
▪ a compelling reason (=a very good reason for doing something)
There are compelling reasons to believe that this is true.
▪ a simple reason (=one that is easy to understand)
I hate mobile phones, for the simple reason that it is now impossible to get away from them.
▪ a logical reason
People don’t always have logical reasons for the things they do.
▪ the only reason
The only reason he’s coming tonight is that I said you’d be here.
■ phrases
▪ for legal/political/medical etc reasons
The boy cannot be named for legal reasons.
▪ for security reasons
The road will be closed for security reasons.
▪ for personal reasons
He resigned for personal reasons.
▪ for sentimental reasons (=because you like someone or something very much)
I wanted to keep the picture for sentimental reasons.
▪ for obvious reasons
This arrangement must be kept secret, for obvious reasons.
▪ for no apparent reason (=for no obvious reason)
He tried to kill me for no apparent reason.
▪ for some reason (or other) ( also for some unknown reason ) (=for a reason that you do not know)
For some reason she felt like crying.
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For some unknown reason, the curtains were always drawn.
▪ for reasons best known to somebody (=used when you do not understand someone’s behaviour)
For reasons best known to herself, she decided to sell the house.
▪ have your reasons (=have a secret reason for doing something)
‘Why did he marry her?’ ‘He must have had his reasons.’
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ reason why something happens, or why someone does something:
What was the reason for the delay?
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I don’t know the reason why he left his last job.
▪ explanation a set of reasons that helps you to understand why something happens, especially when it seems difficult to understand:
There are various possible explanations for climate change.
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Is there any explanation for his behavior?
▪ motive a reason that makes someone decide to do something – often used about crimes:
Police say that there is no obvious motive for the attack.
▪ justification a good reason for doing something that seems wrong:
There is never any justification for torture or abuse.
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They try to use the situation in the Middle East as a justification for killing innocent civilians.
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There’s no justification for this type of behaviour.
▪ grounds a reason that makes it right or fair to do something, especially according to legal, official, or moral rules:
The court will decide if she has grounds for divorce.
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They claim the war is justified on moral grounds (=because of moral reasons) .
▪ basis the main ideas or reasons on which something is based:
The doctor makes his decisions purely on the basis of clinical observation.
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What do you think is the basis for this advice?
▪ rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːl $ -ˈnæl/ formal a set of reasons that are used to explain why someone does something in a particular way:
the rationale behind the government’s economic reforms
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This chapter explains the nature of yearly plans, and provides a rationale for their use.
■ a reason that does not seem believable
▪ excuse a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or not done something that you should have done – especially one that is not completely true:
She said she couldn’t come because she had to work late, but it was just an excuse.
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a feeble excuse (=one that is hard to believe)
▪ pretext especially written an untrue reason that you give for doing or not doing something, in order to hide the real reason:
He would often find some pretext to go out in the evening alone.
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They used this as a pretext for taking military action.
II. reason 2 BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reason , ↑ reasoning , ↑ reasonableness ; adjective : ↑ reasonable ≠ ↑ unreasonable , ↑ reasoned ; verb : ↑ reason ; adverb : ↑ reasonably ≠ ↑ unreasonably ]
1 . [transitive] to form a particular judgment about a situation after carefully considering the facts
reason (that)
They reasoned that other businesses would soon copy the idea.
2 . [intransitive] to think and make judgments:
the ability to reason
reason something ↔ out phrasal verb
to find an explanation or solution to a problem, by thinking of all the possibilities SYN work out
reason with somebody phrasal verb
to talk to someone in an attempt to persuade them to be more sensible:
I tried to reason with her.