INDEX:
1. why something happens or why someone does something
2. why something is right or should be done
3. a reason explaining why you did something wrong
4. to be the reason why something happened or why someone does something
5. to be a good reason why something should be done
6. to tell someone the reason for something
7. when you have a particular reason for doing something
8. when there is no reason for someone’s behaviour
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ CAUSE
↑ BECAUSE
↑ PURPOSE
↑ EXPLAIN
↑ SENSIBLE
↑ LOGICAL
↑ SO/THEREFORE
↑ IN ORDER TO
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1. why something happens or why someone does something
▷ reason /ˈriːz ə n/ [countable noun]
what makes something happen, or what makes someone do something :
▪ Why did he poison his wife? There must be a reason.
reason for
▪ Dad went off to find out the reason for the delay.
reason for doing something
▪ What was your reason for leaving your last job?
reason to do something
▪ You don’t need a reason to phone her. Just call her up and say hello.
reason why
▪ There’s no reason why Jon can’t come with us.
reason (that)
▪ One of the main reasons that she looks so good is that she has her own personal stylist.
for personal/health/business etc reasons
▪ For security reasons, there were video cameras at the school entrance.
for some reason
especially spoken for a reason that you do not know or understand
▪ No, he isn’t here - he had to go back to Poland for some reason.
for reasons best known to himself/herself etc
for secret reasons that other people do not know or understand
▪ For reasons best known to themselves, my parents were vehemently opposed to the idea.
▷ explanation /ˌekspləˈneɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a fact, statement, or idea that helps you to understand why something has happened :
▪ I don’t know why he tested positive for drugs. The only explanation I can think of is that the samples got mixed up.
explanation for
▪ Scientists have offered various explanations for these changes in climate.
possible explanation
▪ There are several possible explanations for girls’ superior high school performance.
▷ motive /ˈməʊtɪv/ [countable noun]
the reason that makes someone decide to do something, especially something bad or dishonest :
▪ It’s hard to understand her motives.
motive for/behind
▪ Police believe the motive for the murder was jealousy
▪ The motive behind the killing of Agnes Law was robbery.
motive for doing something
▪ Whatever your motives for coming over, I’m glad you did.
an ulterior motive
a hidden reason for doing something
▪ She was suspicious. Was there an ulterior motive behind his request?
▷ motivation /ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃ ə n, ˌməʊtəˈveɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
the strong feeling that is your reason for wanting to do something or achieve something, especially something that may take a long time to achieve :
▪ She enjoyed the excitement of her work. Money was not her only motivation.
motivation for
▪ Fame was the main motivation for their efforts.
motivation for doing something
▪ His motivation for wanting to stay on as manager is to see England as the top team in the world.
▷ pretext /ˈpriːtekst/ [countable noun]
the reason that someone gives to explain why they do or do not do something but which is only partly true :
▪ His sore leg was a pretext. He just wanted a day off work.
pretext for
▪ Minor offences were sometimes used as a pretext for an arrest.
pretext to do something
▪ She couldn’t find a pretext to visit Derek at home.
on the pretext of/that
giving the reason that
▪ He used to spend hours at her house on the pretext of giving her Japanese lessons.
2. why something is right or should be done
▷ reason /ˈriːz ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
reason (why/that)
▪ The reason why we need these laws is to protect children from violent adults.
reason to do something
▪ I can think of lots of reasons to get married.
▪ You may be dissatisfied, but is that sufficient reason to resign?
have every reason to do something
to have very good reasons for doing something
▪ We have every reason to believe he is guilty.
with good reason
when it is right or fair that someone does something
▪ The school is proud of its record, and with good reason.
▷ argument /ˈɑːʳgjɑmənt/ [countable noun]
one of the reasons that someone uses to try to persuade someone to agree with them :
argument that
▪ Do you agree with the argument that violence on TV makes people behave violently?
argument for/against
a reason why something should or should not be done
▪ What are the arguments for the legalization of cannabis?
▪ The main argument against smoking is that it’s bad for your health.
▷ justification /ˌdʒʌstɪfəˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌdʒʌstəfəˈkeɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a good reason for doing something that seems wrong :
▪ She had her residence permit taken away, without any justification
justification for
▪ There’s no justification for cruelty.
justification for doing something
▪ What justification can there be for paying women lower wages?
▷ grounds /graʊndz/ [plural noun]
the reason that makes it right or fair for someone to do something - use this especially in legal or official contexts :
grounds for
▪ Is mental cruelty sufficient grounds for divorce?
on the grounds of something
for this reason
▪ He had been fired from his job on the grounds of incompetence.
▪ On what grounds are you claiming compensation?
on the grounds that
▪ She was prohibited from speaking to the students on the grounds that it would stir up trouble.
▷ cause /kɔːz/ [uncountable noun]
a strong reason that makes you think you are right to feel or behave in a particular way :
cause to do something
▪ I’ve never had any cause to complain about my doctor.
with good/just cause
formal
▪ He no longer loved her, and with just cause, because she had betrayed him.
without good/just cause
formal
▪ We have little sympathy for people who leave their jobs without just cause.
cause for complaint/alarm/concern etc
▪ The child’s behaviour is giving us cause for concern.
▪ There is no cause for alarm about the safety of drinking water.
▷ rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːlǁ-ˈnæl/ [singular noun] formal
the reason or series of reasons that someone has used to support a plan, suggestion, change etc :
rationale for/behind
▪ In the document he explains the rationale for his plan to build a car for the African market.
▪ If you do not understand the rationale behind any action you are asked to take, be sure to find out.
3. a reason explaining why you did something wrong
▷ excuse /ɪkˈskjuːs/ [countable noun]
something that you say to try to explain why you did something bad, so that people will forgive you :
▪ Oh shut up Bill, I’m tired of listening to your excuses.
excuse for
▪ He said his car had broken down, but it was just an excuse for coming home late.
make excuses
invent excuses in order to try to escape punishment or blame
▪ He doesn’t make excuses when he gets something wrong.
feeble/pathetic/weak excuse
▪ That is the most feeble excuse for failing a test that I have ever heard.
▷ explanation /ˌekspləˈneɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
something that you say which gives good reasons for something wrong which you have done :
▪ This work should have been finished a week ago. What’s your explanation?
explanation for
▪ He offered no explanation for his absence at the previous day’s meeting.
4. to be the reason why something happened or why someone does something
▷ be the reason /biː ðə ˈriːz ə n/ [verb phrase]
to be the reason why something happened or why someone did something :
be the reason for/behind
▪ Nick’s teachers think that problems at home are the reason for his poor schoolwork.
be the reason why
▪ He borrowed too much money, and that’s the reason why his business failed.
be the reason (that)
▪ I knew that I had my weaknesses. Perhaps that is the reason that I was not more successful.
▷ explain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ [transitive verb]
if a fact or situation explains something, it helps you to understand why it happened :
▪ We were all puzzled: what could explain his sudden change of mind?
explain why/what/how
▪ She couldn’t sleep last night, which explains why she was in such a bad mood this morning.
▷ account for /əˈkaʊnt fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb] formal
to be the reason that explains why something strange or surprising happened :
▪ If it’s true that he was taking drugs, that would account for his strange behaviour.
▷ motivate /ˈməʊtɪveɪt, ˈməʊtəveɪt/ [transitive verb]
to be someone’s personal reason for doing something :
▪ Not all people are motivated by self-interest.
motivate somebody to do something
▪ It’s frustration that motivates babies to learn to walk.
▷ lie behind /ˌlaɪ bɪˈhaɪnd/ [transitive phrasal verb not in passive]
to be the secret or hidden reason for someone’s action or behaviour :
▪ I wonder what lies behind Arthur’s sudden interest in golf?
▪ I think that behind Tania’s aggression lay a deep insecurity about herself.
5. to be a good reason why something should be done
▷ justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ, ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to be the fact or situation that makes it seem right or suitable to do something that would usually be wrong or unfair :
▪ There is not enough evidence to justify such accusations.
▪ No matter what the circumstances, street violence cannot be justified.
▷ make it right /ˌmeɪk ɪt ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
if you say that something that is wrong or bad makes it right for you to do something wrong or bad, you mean that it makes your action acceptable :
▪ It’s wrong to steal and nothing you can say will make it right.
make it right (for somebody) to do something
▪ Just because you know she cheats, that doesn’t make it right for you to do the same.
▷ call for /ˈkɔːl fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if a situation calls for a particular behaviour or action, it is a good reason to behave or act in that way :
▪ I hear that you two are getting married. This calls for a celebration.
▪ It was a tricky situation that called for a lot of diplomacy.
▷ warrant /ˈwɒrəntǁˈwɔː-, ˈwɑː-/ [transitive verb] formal
if a situation warrants a particular behaviour or action, the situation is so bad that there is a good reason to behave or act in that way :
▪ Patients will only be given morphine if their medical condition warrants it.
▪ The offences he has committed are not serious enough to warrant a full investigation.
6. to tell someone the reason for something
▷ say why/tell somebody why /ˌseɪ ˈwaɪ, ˌtel somebody ˈwaɪ/ [verb phrase]
to tell someone why something happened :
▪ I knew she was annoyed, but she wouldn’t say why.
▪ Can anyone tell us why there are no buses today?
▷ explain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to tell someone the reason for something, so that they understand the situation better :
▪ She just doesn’t like me. How else can you explain her behaviour?
▪ I don’t have time to explain now - just come with me quickly!
explain why/how/what etc
▪ Doctors are unable to explain why the disease spread so quickly.
explain that
▪ Sarah explained that she hadn’t been feeling well recently.
explain to
▪ It was difficult explaining to the children why their father was leaving home.
▷ give a reason /ˌgɪv ə ˈriːz ə n/ [verb phrase]
to tell someone why you are doing something, especially something surprising :
▪ ‘He says he’s not coming.’ ‘Oh, did he give a reason?’
give somebody a reason
▪ The landlord told us we had to go, but we were never given any reason.
▷ account for /əˈkaʊnt fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
to tell someone the reason for something that has happened, especially when people are looking for a reason to explain it :
▪ If you walked home, how do you account for the fact that a witness said he saw you driving your van?
▪ It is difficult to account for the big differences in their scores.
▷ provide an explanation/come up with an explanation /prəˌvaɪd ən ekspləˈneɪʃ ə n, kʌm ˌʌp wɪð ən ˌekspləˈneɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
to tell someone the reason why something happened when they have asked you to explain. Provide an explanation is more formal than come up with an explanation :
▪ In an attempt to provide an explanation she said she thought I had given her permission to be absent.
▪ After failing to come up with an adequate explanation, Jones was arrested for robbery.
▷ justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ, ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to tell someone why something that seems wrong is in fact right :
▪ How can you justify the expense?
justify doing something
▪ How can you possibly justify charging four pounds for a glass of beer?
▷ explain away /ɪkˌspleɪn əˈweɪ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to tell someone the reason why you did something or why something happened, with the intention of making them think you have not done anything wrong or bad :
explain away something
▪ George was trying to explain away his outburst, saying that he’d been under a lot of pressure.
▪ The government tried to explain away the police’s unexpected brutality, but this only led to rioting.
explain something away
▪ But there’s broken glass all over the floor - how are we going to explain that away?
7. when you have a particular reason for doing something
▷ have reasons /ˌhæv ˈriːz ə nz/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to have a reason for doing something - used especially when you do not want to say what that reason is :
▪ I know I don’t always explain myself, but you must always do what I say. I have reasons.
have reasons for
▪ Each of us had reasons for wanting to leave.
have reasons to do something
▪ I have reasons not to confide in you or anyone else.
have your reasons
▪ I know it sounds silly but I have my reasons, believe me.
▷ be somebody’s reasons /biː somebodyˈs ˈriːz ə nz/ [verb phrase]
to be the reasons why someone does something, especially when you know they have a reason but do not know what it is :
▪ Do you think that your decision is fair? What are your reasons?
be sb’s reasons for doing something
▪ What were his reasons for leaving the country so quickly?
▷ have ulterior motives /hæv ʌlˌtɪ ə riəʳ ˈməʊtɪvz/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to do something for a secret reason when everyone thinks you are doing it for a different reason :
▪ You’re so suspicious. Whenever I buy you a present, you think I have ulterior motives.
▪ It was difficult to accept that she had no ulterior motives. Why would she want to see the office records?
▷ vested interest /ˌvestɪd ˈɪntrəst, ˌvestəd ˈɪntrəst/ [countable/uncountable noun]
if you have a vested interest in something happening, you have a strong reason for wanting it to happen because you will get an advantage from it :
▪ The committee should be independent of all vested interest.
have a vested interest in something
▪ Both the newspaper and the advertising agency have a vested interest in encouraging advertising.
8. when there is no reason for someone’s behaviour
▷ be no reason /biː nəʊ ˈriːz ə n/ [verb phrase]
use this to say that there is no reason for someone to think or behave in a particular way :
be no reason to do something
▪ I know I’m late, but that’s no reason to lose your temper.
there is no reason for something
▪ Please remain calm everyone. There is no reason for panic.
▷ be no excuse/justification /biː nəʊ ɪkˈskjuːs, ˌdʒʌstə̇fə̇ˈkeɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
use this to say that there is no acceptable reason for someone to think or behave in a bad or unfair way. Be no justification is more formal than be no excuse :
▪ ‘But she started it.’ ‘That’s no excuse.’
be no excuse/justification to do something
▪ Ron may not be the most pleasant person to work with, but that’s no justification to fire him.
there’s no excuse/justification for something
▪ There’s no excuse for such childish behaviour from a grown man.
▷ groundless /ˈgraʊndləs/ [adjective]
groundless fears, suspicions etc that are unnecessary because there are no facts to base them on :
▪ Fleury dismissed our fears as groundless, though he was secretly alarmed.
▪ A message from Interpol confirmed that our Inspector’s suspicions were far from groundless.
▷ unfounded /ʌnˈfaʊndɪd, ʌnˈfaʊndəd/ [adjective]
worries, fears, hopes etc that are unfounded are wrong because there are no reasons to have these feelings :
▪ I am going to prove to you that your suspicions are entirely unfounded.
▪ All the signs indicate that the general’s optimism is unfounded.