Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - reason

~1 n 1 »CAUSE« the cause or explanation for something that has happened or that someone has done  (The reason I bought one was that it was so cheap. | reason (that))  (The only reason I went was that I wanted to meet your friends. | reason why)  (We'd like to know the reason why she didn't accept the job.) + for  (I can see no reason for their behaviour.) give a reason (=explain)  (She just left without giving any reason. | for personal/health etc reasons)  (She wants to change her job for purely personal reasons. | for reasons of)  (The main tower has been closed for reasons of safety. | by reason of formal)  (He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. | for some reason especially spoken (=for a reason that you do not know or cannot understand))  (They've decided to change all our job titles, for some reason. | have your reasons spoken (=have a secret reason for doing something))  ("Why did you tell him?" "Oh, I had my reasons." | for reasons best known to yourself (=for reasons that other people do not understand))  (For reasons best known to herself, she's sold the house and left the country.)  (- see excuse2) 2 »GOOD OR FAIR REASON« a fact that makes it right or fair for someone to do something  (reason to do sth)  (I have no reason to believe that Grant's death was not an accident. | There is no reason to panic. | have every reason to do sth (=have very good reasons for doing something))  (Under the circumstances we had every reason to be suspicious. | be no reason to do sth)  (I know I'm late, but that's no reason to shout at me. | with (good) reason (=not stupidly or unnecessarily))  (Natalie was alarmed by the news, and with reason.) 3 all the more reason to do sth spoken used to say that what has just been mentioned is an additional reason for doing what you have suggested  ("She's going on holiday soon." "All the more reason to ask her today.") 4 »GOOD JUDGMENT« sensible judgment and understanding  (There's reason in what he says. | listen to reason (=be persuaded by someone's sensible advice))  (We keep telling her why it won't work, but she just won't listen to reason. | see reason (=accept advice and make a sensible decision))  (They tried to make him see reason.) 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« the ability to think, understand and form judgments that are based on facts  (The power of reason separates us from other animals. | 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.")  (- see also without rhyme or reason rhyme1 (4), it stands to reason stand1 (40))  ( USAGE NOTE: REASON WORD CHOICE cause, reason, purpose A cause is anything that produces a result, often not a person the causes of inflation | the cause of the accident A reason explains something, often after it has happened or been done There was no reason for the attack. | There are several reasons why the plan won't work. | Give me one good reason. A purpose is what you hope to achieve by something you do, and is intentional Their purpose is to attract attention to environmental issues. GRAMMAR Reason is often followed by for, that, or why What's the reason for all this noise? (NOT the reason of or to)| the reason that/why he left (NOT the reason because/how he left...). It is also possible to leave out that the reason he left The nature of a reason is usually described in a that clause The reason for the party was that it was Sue's birthday. In spoken English you may also hear because used, though this is considered to be incorrect by many speakers The reason for the party is because it's Sue's birthday. Purpose is often followed by of or in The purpose of the trip/of my coming is to see the President (NOT The purpose why I'm coming.).| My purpose in coming is to see the President (NOT of/for coming ...). People usually say For this reason/purpose ... (NOT from/because of this reason ..., in/on this purpose or for this cause).