English Dictionary
Definition reason in British English
reason
noun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
noun
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
▪ compelling, good, legitimate, logical, main, major, obvious, primary, principal, simple, valid
▪ cite, explain, give, outline, pinpoint, provide, specify, state
After reason, use the preposition for, not of:
✗ The main reason of poverty is unemployment.
✓ The main reason for poverty is unemployment.
✗ A doctor can’t operate if he doesn’t know the reason of the illness.
✓ A doctor can’t operate if he doesn’t know the reason for the illness.
Other words meaning reason
cause the reason that something happens or that you feel a particular emotion: The probable cause of death was drowning.Fifty years after the war, scholars still disagree about its causes.
excuse a reason you give in order to explain why you did something bad or wrong: She gave some excuse about being too sick to finish her essay.
explanation a fact or set of facts that tells you why something happened: There was no obvious explanation for his sudden disappearance.
grounds a word used in official or legal situations, meaning a good or fair reason for doing something: His repeated violence towards her was given as grounds for divorce.Permission for the march was refused, on grounds of public safety.
motivation someone’s personal reason for doing something: The other runners’ times were fast, and that gave me motivation to push even harder.
motive someone’s personal reason for doing something, especially something dishonest or illegal: Police are unsure about a motive for the crime.
pretext a false reason you give for doing something in order to hide your real reason: He got into the warehouse on the pretext of making a building inspection.
purpose the goal that you want to achieve: The purpose of Tuesday’s meeting is to finalize the schedule.
a fact, situation, or intention that explains why something happened, why someone did something, or why something is true
Could you explain your reasons for choosing this particular course?
Our application was rejected, but the council gave no reason for its decision.
She has no reason to shout at you.
I can't see any reason for refusing their invitation.
She had reason on her side.
Fortunately, reason prevailed and she did not marry him.
