# reasons

/ˈɹizənz/ (US) · /ɹˈiːzənz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reasons
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. explanations

noun · CEFR A2

the facts or causes that explain why something happened or why you did something.

For teachers: the causes, justifications, or motives for an action, belief, or event.

- There are many reasons why people decide to move to a new city.
- The committee outlined several compelling reasons for the budget increase, citing rising energy costs and the need for infrastructure repairs.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' or a 'why' clause.

### 2. legal judgment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a written document where a judge explains the logic behind their decision.

For teachers: the formal written explanation of a court's judgment or ruling.

- The judge will release her reasons for the verdict next Tuesday.
- The appellate court examined the trial judge's reasons to determine if there had been a misapplication of the law during the initial proceedings.

Usage: Often used in the plural form in legal contexts.

### 3. to think logically

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to think about something in a logical way to find an answer or solution.

For teachers: to use the power of the mind to think and form judgments logically.

- He reasons that if the light is off, nobody must be home.
- The philosopher reasons that ethical behavior is a natural consequence of rational self-interest.

Usage: Often followed by a 'that' clause.

## Examples

- She has many reasons for moving to a new city.
- The manager asked for the specific reasons behind the sudden drop in sales during the last quarter.
- While the legal team cited several procedural reasons for the appeal, the underlying motivation appeared to be a desire to delay the final judgment as long as possible.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.