Meaning of reason In English

• 0 the cause of an event or situation or something that provides an excuse or explanation:

  • The reason for the disaster was engine failure, not human error.

  • [ + question word ] The reason why grass is green was a mystery to the little boy.

  • [ + (that) ] The reason (that) I'm calling is to ask a favour.

  • not standard The reason I walked out was because I was bored.

  • [ + to infinitive ] The police have (every good) reason to believe that he is guilty.

  • She was furious, and with reason (= with good cause).

  • For some reason/For reasons best known to himself (= for reasons no one else knows about) he's decided to leave his job.

  • He's always asked to these occasions by reason of his position.

• 1 the ability of a healthy mind to think and make judgments, especially based on practical facts:

  • We humans believe that we are the only animals to have the power of reason.

  • mainly UK old-fashioned He lost his reason (= became mentally ill) when both his parents were killed in the crash.

  • We can wear anything we like to the office, within reason.

• 2 to try to understand and to make judgments based on practical facts:

  • [ + (that) ] Newton reasoned (that) there must be a force such as gravity

  • I spent hours reasoning out the solution to the puzzle.

• 3 the cause of an event or situation, or something suggested as an explanation:

  • [ C ] She had never stopped by before for any reason.

  • [ C ] There must be a reason why she’s not here yet.

  • [ U ] Adams had good reason to fire Pickering.

• 4 the ability to think and make judgments, esp. good judgments:

  • Meditation seemed to have improved her ability to reason.

• 5 to think about and make a good judgment about:

  • [ + (that) clause ] He reasoned (that) he had only four or five years left as an athlete.

• 6 to argue with and try to persuade someone:

  • [ I ] Grace kept her voice gentle, as if she were reasoning with a child.