reasoning
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the process of thinking about something in a clear and sensible way.
the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way to reach a conclusion.
Simple“I don't understand the reasoning behind your decision to quit your job.”
In context“The committee's reasoning was based on a thorough analysis of the financial risks involved in the merger.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'behind' to explain the cause of an action.
- 02 C1 Advanced
the reasons or arguments that someone uses to explain their ideas.
a specific sequence of arguments or justifications used to support a particular viewpoint.
Simple“The lawyer presented his reasoning to the judge during the trial.”
In context“The paper provides a detailed line of reasoning that challenges the traditional interpretation of the historical data.”
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'line of reasoning'.
“Engineers like me hold several spatial relationships in their minds at once, reasoning about where things sit relative to one another across scales ranging from a city block to a whole watershed.”
“My 2024 research also shows that technology was most valuable when students used it to investigate scientific questions, test ideas, create models, work with classmates and explain their reasoning.”