stand to reason

- 5 dictionary results

rea⋅son

[ree-zuh

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–noun

1.	a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.

2.	a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.

3.	the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.

4.	sound judgment; good sense.

5.	normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.

6.	Logic. a premise of an argument.

Philosophy.

a.	the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument.

b.	the power of intelligent and dispassionate thought, or of conduct influenced by such thought.

c.	Kantianism. the faculty by which the ideas of pure reason are created.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to think or argue in a logical manner.

9.	to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.

10.	to urge reasons which should determine belief or action.

–verb (used with object)

11.	to think through logically, as a problem (often fol. by out).

12.	to conclude or infer.

13.	to convince, persuade, etc., by reasoning.

14.	to support with reasons.

—Idioms

15.	bring (someone) to reason, to induce a change of opinion in (someone) through presentation of arguments; convince: The mother tried to bring her rebellious daughter to reason.

16.	by reason of, on account of; because of: He was consulted about the problem by reason of his long experience.

17.	in or within reason, in accord with reason; justifiable; proper: She tried to keep her demands in reason.

18.	stand to reason, to be clear, obvious, or logical: With such an upbringing it stands to reason that the child will be spoiled.

19.	with reason, with justification; properly: The government is concerned about the latest crisis, and with reason.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME resoun, reisun (n.) < OF reisun, reson < L ratiōn- (s. of ratiō) ratio

Related forms:

rea⋅son⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. purpose, end, aim, object, objective. Reason, cause, motive are terms for a circumstance (or circumstances) which brings about or explains certain results. A reason is an explanation of a situation or circumstance which made certain results seem possible or appropriate: The reason for the robbery was the victim's display of his money. The cause is the way in which the circumstances produce the effect, that is, make a specific action seem necessary or desirable: The cause was the robber's extreme need of money. A motive is the hope, desire, or other force which starts the action (or an action) in an attempt to produce specific results: The motive was to get money to buy food for his family. 2. excuse, rationalization. 3. understanding, intellect, mind, intelligence. 10. persuade.

Usage note:
The construction reason is because is criticized in a number of usage guides: The reason for the long delays was because the costs greatly exceeded the original estimates. One objection to this construction is based on its redundancy: the word because (literally, by cause) contains within it the meaning of reason; thus saying the reason is because is like saying “The cause is by cause,” which would never be said. A second objection is based on the claim that because can introduce only adverbial clauses and that reason is requires completion by a noun clause. Critics would substitute that for because in the offending construction: The reason for the long delays in completing the project was that the costs. … Although the objections described here are frequently raised, reason is because is still common in almost all levels of speech and occurs often in edited writing as well.
A similar charge of redundancy is made against the reason why, which is also a well-established idiom: The reason why the bill failed to pass was the defection of three key senators.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To stand to reason

stand (stānd)

v. stood (stŏŏd), stand·ing, stands

v. intr.

1. To rise to an upright position on the feet.
2. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified: stand straight; stand to one side.
3. To maintain an upright position on the feet.
4. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.
5. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.
6. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
7. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
8. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
9. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
10. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
11. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
1. To maintain an upright position on the feet.
2. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.
3. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.
4. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
5. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
6. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
7. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
8. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
9. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
1. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
2. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
3. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
4. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
5. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
6. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To be or show a specified figure or amount: The balance stands at $500.
To measure a specified height when in an upright position: stands six feet tall.
To take up or maintain a specified position, altitude, or course: He stands on his earlier offer. We will stand firm.
To be in a position of possible gain or loss: She stands to make a fortune.
1. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
2. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
3. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
4. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To be at a specified level on or as if on a scale: stands third in her class; stands high in reputation.
1. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
2. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To remain without flowing or being disturbed; be or become stagnant.
Nautical To take or hold a particular course or direction: a ship standing to windward.
To be available as a sire. Used of horses.
Chiefly British To be a candidate for public office.

v. tr.

To cause to stand; place upright.
To engage in or encounter: stand battle.
1. To resist successfully; withstand: stand the test of time; will not stand close examination.
2. To put up with patiently or resolutely; bear: can't stand the heat. See Synonyms at bear¹.
To submit to or undergo: stand trial.
To tolerate and benefit from: I could stand a good night's sleep.
To perform the duty of: stand guard.
Informal To treat (someone) or pay the cost of (food or drink): She stood him to a drink. We'll stand dinner.

The act of standing.
A ceasing of work or activity; a standstill or halt.
A stop on a performance tour.
The place or station where a person stands.
A booth, stall, or counter for the display of goods for sale.
A parking space reserved for taxis.
A desperate or decisive effort at defense or resistance, as in a battle: made their stand at the river.
A position or opinion one is prepared to uphold: must take a stand on environmental issues.
stands The bleachers at a playing field or stadium.
Law A witness stand.
A small rack, prop, or table for holding any of various articles: a music stand; a bedside stand.
A group or growth of tall plants or trees: a stand of pine.
To be ready or available to act.
To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.
To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.
To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.
To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.
Law To leave a witness stand.
To withdraw, as from a political contest.
To end a state of readiness or alert.
To go off duty.
To represent; symbolize.
To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.
To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.
To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.
To put off; evade.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.
To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.
To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.
To protrude; project.
To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.
To watch or supervise closely.
To hold over; postpone.
To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.
Informal To fail to keep a date with.

Phrasal Verb(s):
stand by

To be ready or available to act.
To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.
To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.
To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.
To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.

stand down

Law To leave a witness stand.
To withdraw, as from a political contest.
To end a state of readiness or alert.
To go off duty.

stand for

To represent; symbolize.
To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.
To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.

stand inTo act as a stand-in.
stand off

To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.
To put off; evade.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand on

To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.
To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.

stand out

To protrude; project.
To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand over

To watch or supervise closely.
To hold over; postpone.

stand toTo take up positions for action.
stand up

To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.
Informal To fail to keep a date with.

Idiom(s):
stand a chanceTo have a chance, as of gaining or accomplishing something.

Idiom(s):
stand (one's) ground

To maintain one's position against an attack.
To refuse to compromise; be unyielding.

Idiom(s):
stand on (one's) own/two feetTo be independent and responsible for oneself.

Idiom(s):
stand pat

To oppose or resist change.
Games To play one's poker hand without drawing more cards.

Idiom(s):
stand to reasonTo be consistent with reason: It stands to reason that if we leave late, we will arrive late.

Idiom(s):
stand up for

To side with; defend.
To stand up with.

Idiom(s):
stand up toTo confront fearlessly; face up to.

Idiom(s):
stand up withTo act as best man or maid of honor for (the groom or bride) at a wedding.

[Middle English standen, from Old English standan; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
stand'er n.

Word Origin & History

reason (n.)

c.1225, "statement in an argument," also "intellectual faculty that adopts actions to ends," from Anglo-Fr. resoun, O.Fr. raison, from L. rationem (nom. ratio) "reckoning, understanding, motive, cause," from ratus, pp. of reri "to reckon, think," from PIE base *rei- "to reason, count" (cf. O.E. rædan "to advise; see read). Meaning "sanity" is recorded from, c.1380. The verb (c.1300) is from O.Fr. raisoner, from L.L. rationare "to discourse." Originally "to question (someone)," sense of "employ reasoning (with someone)" is from 1847, and that of "to think in a logical manner" is from 1593. Phrase it stands to reason is from 1632. Age of Reason "the Enlightenment" is first recorded 1794, as the title of Tom Paine's book.

Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: rea·son
Function: noun
1 : an underlying ground, justification, purpose, motive, or inducement reasons for the termination in writing>
2 a : the faculty of comprehending, inferring, or distinguishing esp. in a fair and orderly way b : the proper and sane exercise of the mind

Idioms & Phrases

stand to reason

Be logical or rational, as in It stands to reason that if you don't like hot weather you shouldn't move to Florida. [Early 1600s]

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