reason
reason
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "reason"
IPA: /ˈriːzən/
Syllable Breakdown:
ˈriː - /ˈriː/
/r/ - alveolar trill
/iː/ - long close front vowel
zən - /zən/
/z/ - voiced alveolar fricative
/ə/ - schwa
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular: reason Plural: reasons
Other forms:
Adjective: reasonable
Verb: to reason
Adverb: reasonably
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A logical argument or justification for a belief, action, or decision.
Synonyms: justification, explanation, rationale, motive, cause
Antonyms: irrationality, absurdity, illogicality
Definition: The faculty of logical thinking or sound judgment.
Synonyms: intellect, intelligence, understanding, sense, mind
Antonyms: foolishness, stupidity, irrationality
Verb
Definition: To think logically and systematically, especially in order to reach a conclusion.
Synonyms: argue, deduce, infer, conclude, analyze
Antonyms: guess, speculate, intuit
Adjective
Definition: Based on or guided by reason; logical, sensible, or practical.
Synonyms: logical, rational, sensible, practical, intelligent
Antonyms: irrational, illogical, unreasonable, foolish, senseless
Adverb
Definition: In a logical or sensible manner; reasonably.
Synonyms: logically, rationally, sensibly, practically
Antonyms: irrationally, illogically, unreasonably
Examples of Use
Books
"The reason he left was that he was unhappy." (From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
"There is no reason to doubt his word." (From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Newspapers
"The company provided no reason for the sudden layoffs." (The New York Times)
"The government's decision was based on sound economic reason." (The Guardian)
Online Publications
"The article offers a compelling reason to support renewable energy." (The Atlantic)
"There is no scientific reason to believe in ghosts." (Scientific American)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"The reason for the breakup was a difference in values." (A popular TV show)
"The character's actions were driven by a noble reason." (A video game)
"The song explores the reasons for love and loss." (A popular music artist)
General Public Discourse
"I can't understand the reason for his behavior." (A common conversation topic)
"There is no reason to be afraid." (A motivational speech)
"The reason for the traffic jam is a car accident." (A news report)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Reason
"Reason is the slave of passion." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
"It is better to be a free man in hell than a slave in paradise." (John Milton, Paradise Lost)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, Inaugural Address)
"Doubt is a pain that reason feels." (John Dryden, Religio Laici)
"Reason is a gift from God, and it is a great one." (Voltaire)
"The best reason for doing a thing is that it is right." (Henry David Thoreau)
"Reason is the guide of life." (Cicero)
"There is no reason to be afraid of the dark." (Unknown)
"The only reason to fight is for love." (Original quote)
Etymology
Reason is an old English word that comes from the Latin word "ratio," meaning "calculation, reckoning, or understanding." This Latin word itself can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root reǵ-, which means "to be straight, to rule."
So, when we think about the word "reason," we're essentially talking about something that is straight, logical, and orderly, like a ruler or a straight line. This is why reason is often associated with logic, thinking clearly, and making sense of things.
The first known use of "reason" in English was around the 13th century, and it was used to mean "a logical argument" or "the faculty of understanding."
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Reason
Common Phrases:
To be in one's right mind: To be sane or rational.
To give someone a reason to live: To provide someone with hope or purpose.
To stand to reason: To be logical or obvious.
To have no reason to complain: To be satisfied or content.
To be beyond reason: To be irrational or unreasonable.
Lesser-Known Phrases:
To reason oneself out of something: To convince oneself not to do something.
To reason with someone: To try to persuade someone through logic or argument.
A reason to be alive: A motivating factor or goal.
Idioms with Synonyms:
To be in one's right mind: To be in one's senses, to be of sound mind.
To stand to reason: It goes without saying, it's self-evident.
To have no reason to complain: To be living high on the hog, to be on easy street.
Note: While "reason" is a common word, it's not as frequently used in idioms as some other words. This is likely due to its straightforward meaning and the fact that it's often used in a more literal sense. However, the phrases and idioms listed above provide a good representation of how the word can be used in idiomatic expressions.
Posts Related to Reason
Source Information
Definition of reason from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.