reason*/*/*/

[ˈriːz(ə)n] noun I

1) [C] a fact, situation, or intention that explains why something happened, why someone did something, or why something is true

The police asked her the reason for her visit.[/ex]

The council gave no reason for its decision.[/ex]

Could you explain your reasons for choosing this particular course?[/ex]

The reason why so many people caught the disease is still not clear.[/ex]

The reason these cars are so expensive is that they are largely built by hand.[/ex]

2) [U] a good or clear cause for doing something or thinking something

Sometimes the dog would bark for no reason.[/ex]

With plenty of orders coming in, there is reason for optimism about the company's future.[/ex]

3) [U] a way of behaving that most people accept as sensible

He finally saw reason and gave me the gun.[/ex]

Let your children have their freedom, within reason.[/ex]

4) [U] the human ability to think in an intelligent way, make sensible decisions, and form clear arguments

His assessment of the situation is based on sheer emotion, not reason.[/ex]

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all the more reason — used for emphasizing that what someone has said or done is another reason why they should do a particular thing[/ex]

for some reason — used for saying that you do not know why something happened[/ex]

For some reason, they wouldn't let me help them.[/ex]

See:

stand I

Other words that mean reason ■ cause the reason that something happens, or the reason that you feel a particular emotion ■ excuse a reason that you give in order to explain why you did something bad ■ explanation a set of facts that tell you why something happened ■ grounds a good or fair reason for doing something. This word is used in official or legal situations ■ motivation someone's personal reason for doing something ■ motive someone's personal reason for doing something ■ pretext a false reason that you give in order to hide your real reason for doing something ■ purpose something that you want to achieve II

verb [T] formal

reason [ˈriːz(ə)n]

to make a particular judgment after you have thought about the facts of a situation in an intelligent and sensible way

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- reason with sb