reason

rea|son¹ W1S1 [ˈri:zən] n

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1¦(cause)¦

2¦(good or fair)¦

3 all the more reason why/to do something

4¦(good judgment)¦

5 within reason

6 go/be beyond (all) reason

7¦(ability to think)¦

8 no reason

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[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: raison, from Latin ratio; RATIO]

1.) ¦(CAUSE)¦

why someone decides to do something, or the cause or explanation for something that happens

▪ The reason I called was to ask about the plans for Saturday.

▪ We'd like to know the reason why she didn't accept the job.

▪ People give many different reasons for wanting to change jobs.

▪ They must have had a good reason to do it.

reason behind

▪ He explained the reasons behind the decision.

▪ He wouldn't give the reasons for his decision.

▪ For some reason or other , he couldn't come that day.

▪ She wants to change her job for purely personal reasons .

▪ I kept the photos for sentimental reasons .

▪ She didn't answer for the simple reason that she couldn't think of anything to say.

▪ For obvious reasons , we've changed all the names.

▪ The tower is closed for reasons of safety.

▪ For reasons best known to herself , she's sold the house and left the country.

▪ There is no reason whatsoever to doubt her story.

▪ 'Why did you tell him?' 'Oh, I had my reasons .'

▪ I see no reason why it shouldn't work.

see usage note ↑cause¹

2.) ¦(GOOD OR FAIR)¦[U]

a fact that makes it right or fair for someone to do something

(no) reason to do sth

▪ There is no reason to panic.

▪ She has reason to feel guilty.

▪ We have reason to believe that the goods were stolen.

▪ I know I'm late, but that's no reason to shout at me.

▪ Under the circumstances, we had every reason (=had very good reasons) to be suspicious.

with (good) reason

(=based on something sensible)

▪ Natalie was alarmed by the news, and with reason.

3.) all the more reason why/to do sth

spoken used to say that what has just been mentioned is an additional reason for doing what you have suggested

▪ But surely that's all the more reason to act quickly.

4.) ¦(GOOD JUDGMENT)¦[U]

sensible judgment and understanding

= ↑sense

▪ There's reason in what he says.

▪ They're not prepared to listen to reason (=be persuaded by someone's sensible advice) .

▪ There's no way of making my father see reason (=accept advice and make a sensible decision) .

5.) within reason

within sensible limits

▪ You can go anywhere you want, within reason.

6.) go/be beyond (all) reason

to be more than is acceptable or reasonable

▪ Their demands go beyond all reason.

7.) ¦(ABILITY TO THINK)¦[U]

the ability to think, understand, and form judgments that are based on facts

▪ the human power of reason

lose your reason

old-fashioned (=become mentally ill)

8.) no reason

spoken used when someone asks you why you are doing something and you do not want to tell them

▪ 'Why d'you want to go that way?' 'Oh, no reason.'

→no rhyme or reason at ↑rhyme¹ (4)

→it stands to reason at ↑stand¹ (32)

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

reason (that)

reason why

reason for (doing) something

reason to do something

a good reason

a compelling reason (=a reason that persuades you)

give a reason (for something)

for some reason (or other/or another) (=for a reason that you do not know)

for personal reasons

for sentimental reasons (=because of your feelings, not for practical reasons)

for the simple reason (that)

for obvious reasons

for reasons of something

for reasons best known to himself/themselves etc (=used when someone does something surprising)

no/any reason whatsoever

have your reasons (=have a secret reason for doing something)

see no reason why/to do something

by reason of something formal (=because of something)

GRAMMAR

!! Reason is never followed by of or because .

You can talk about the reason for something, the reason that something happens , or the reason why something happens : Can you explain the reasons for (NOT reasons of) your decision? |The main reason why/that (NOT reason because) I'm writing is to invite you to stay.

You can also leave out why or that : I like children, and that's the reason I became a teacher.

!! Reason is not usually followed by against . When you are giving reasons why something is bad, use argument against : An important argument against (NOT reason against) capital punishment is the possibility of error.

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reason ²

reason² v

1.) [T]

to form a particular judgment about a situation after carefully considering the facts

reason (that)

▪ They reasoned that other businesses would soon copy the idea.

2.)

to think and make judgments

▪ the ability to reason

reason out [reason sth<=>out] [i]phr v

to find an explanation or solution to a problem, by thinking of all the possibilities

= ↑work out

reason with [reason with sb] phr v

to talk to someone in an attempt to persuade them to be more sensible

▪ I tried to reason with her.