“reason”

Definitions

• noun

  a rational motive for a belief or action

  Synonyms: ground, occasion, vernunft, acceptable, accomplishment, account, admissibility, aim, air, allegorization, ambition, analyze

  • Example:“the reason that war was declared”
  • Example:“the grounds for their declaration”

• noun

  an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon

  • Example:“The reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly.”

• noun

  the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination

  Synonyms: understanding, intellect

  • Example:“We are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil.”

• noun

  the state of having good sense and sound judgment

  Synonyms: rationality, reasonableness

  • Example:“His rationality may have been impaired.”
  • Example:“He had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions.”

• noun

  a justification for something existing or happening

  Synonyms: cause, grounds

  • Example:“He had no cause to complain.”
  • Example:“They had good reason to rejoice.”

• noun

  a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion

  • Example:“There is reason to believe he is lying.”