reason
/'ri:zn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A cause, explanation, or justification for an action, event, or belief: A fact or circumstance that provides logical grounds for something.
- The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments logically: The capacity for rational, analytical thought.
- What is right, practical, or possible; good sense: Conformity with logic or sensible thinking.
Verb:
- To think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic: To use the faculty of reason.
- To persuade someone with logical arguments: To try to convince someone by presenting reasoned points.
- To conclude or work something out by using logic: To reach a judgment or solution through a process of reasoning.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The main reason for his resignation was the lack of support. (The cause or justification for his action.)
- Human beings possess the faculty of reason. (The capacity for logical thought.)
- It's important to listen to reason. (To listen to sensible, logical advice.)
Verb:
- We need to reason this problem through carefully. (To think about it logically.)
- She tried to reason with him, but he was too angry. (To persuade him using logical arguments.)
- From the evidence, we can reason that the suspect was present. (To conclude logically.)
Advanced Usage
"within reason": Within sensible or moderate limits; not excessive.
- You can decorate your room however you like, within reason. (As long as it is sensible and not extreme.)
"it stands to reason": It is logical or obvious to conclude.
- It stands to reason that if you practice more, you will improve. (It is a logical conclusion.)
"by reason of": Because of; due to (formal).
- The event was canceled by reason of bad weather. (Because of bad weather.)
Variants and Related Words
Reasonable (adj): Based on good sense; fair and sensible.
- She made a reasonable request. (A fair and sensible request.)
Reasoning (n): The process of thinking about something in a logical way to form a conclusion or judgment.
- His reasoning was flawed. (His logical process was incorrect.)
Reasoned (adj): Based on logic or good sense.
- She presented a reasoned argument. (A logical and well-thought-out argument.)
Synonyms
- Noun (cause): Cause, grounds, basis, justification, motive.
- Noun (logic): Intellect, rationality, logic, judgment, sense.
- Verb: Think, deduce, infer, conclude, argue, persuade.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Reason out: To find an answer or solution to something by thinking about it logically.
- Let's sit down and reason out the best course of action. (Think it through logically to find the best plan.)
Reason with: To try to persuade someone to be sensible by talking to them in a logical way.
- It's useless to reason with him when he's in this mood. (To try to persuade him logically.)
Related Idioms
"lose one's reason": To become insane or irrational.
- The tragic news caused him to lose his reason. (To become mentally unbalanced.)
"rhyme or reason": Logical explanation or sense (often used in the negative).
- There's no rhyme or reason to his decisions. (His decisions make no logical sense.)
Noun
- a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion
- there is reason to believe he is lying
- a justification for something existing or happening
- he had no cause to complain
- they had good reason to rejoice
- the state of having good sense and sound judgment
- his rationality may have been impaired
- he had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions
- the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination
- we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil
- an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon
- the reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly
- a rational motive for a belief or action
- the reason that war was declared
- the grounds for their declaration
Verb
- think logically
- The children must learn to reason
- present reasons and arguments
- decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion
- We reasoned that it was cheaper to rent than to buy a house