reason
[ ree-zuhn ]
/ ˈri zən /
noun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
Idioms for reason
Origin of reason
1175–1225; Middle English
resoun, reisun (noun) < Old French
reisun, reson < Latin
ratiōn- (stem of
ratiō)
ratio
SYNONYMS FOR reason
10
persuade.
synonym study for reason
1.
Reason,
cause,
motive are terms for a circumstance (or circumstances) which brings about or explains certain results. A
reason is an explanation of a situation or circumstance which made certain results seem possible or appropriate:
The reason for the robbery was the victim's display of his money. The
cause is the way in which the circumstances produce the effect, that is, make a specific action seem necessary or desirable:
The cause was the robber's extreme need of money. A
motive is the hope, desire, or other force which starts the action (or an action) in an attempt to produce specific results:
The motive was to get money to buy food for his family.
usage note for reason
The construction
reason is because is criticized in a number of usage guides:
The reason for the long delays was because the costs greatly exceeded the original estimates. One objection to this construction is based on its redundancy: the word
because (literally,
by cause ) contains within it the meaning of
reason; thus saying the
reason is because is like saying “The cause is by cause,” which would never be said. A second objection is based on the claim that
because can introduce only adverbial clauses and that
reason is requires completion by a noun clause. Critics would substitute
that for
because in the offending construction:
The reason for the long delays in completing the project was that the costs. … Although the objections described here are frequently raised,
reason is because is still common in almost all levels of speech and occurs often in edited writing as well.
A similar charge of redundancy is made against the reason why, which is also a well-established idiom: The reason why the bill failed to pass was the defection of three key senators.
A similar charge of redundancy is made against the reason why, which is also a well-established idiom: The reason why the bill failed to pass was the defection of three key senators.
OTHER WORDS FROM reason
Words nearby reason
rearmost,
rearmouse,
rearrange,
rearview mirror,
rearward,
reason,
reason, age of,
reasonable,
reasoned,
reasoning,
reasonless
British Dictionary definitions for by reason of
reason
/ (ˈriːzən) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of reason
reasoner, nounWord Origin for reason
C13: from Old French
reisun, from Latin
ratiō reckoning, from
rērī to think
usage for reason
The expression
the reason is because… should be avoided. Instead one should say either
this is because… or
the reason is that…
Idioms and Phrases with by reason of (1 of 2)
by reason of
Because of, owing to, as in By reason of a crop failure, the price of coffee is bound to rise. This expression is considered quite formal today. [c. 1300]
Idioms and Phrases with by reason of (2 of 2)
reason
see by reason of; in reason; it stands to reason; listen to reason; lose one's mind (reason); rhyme or reason; see reason; stand to reason; with reason.