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reasonable

B1
Common

Pronunciation

UK

  • /rˈiːzənəbəl/

US

  • /ˈrizənəbəl/

Meanings

Adjective

  1. fair, appropriate, or acceptable in the circumstances

  2. showing sound judgment and clear thinking

  3. not too expensive for what it is

More meanings
  1. fairly good or fairly large in amount, level, or chance

Beyond the definition

Being reasonable means being guided by good sense and logic—not letting emotions cloud your judgment. If your little brother wants to eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, asking him to be reasonable might involve suggesting a more balanced meal plan! It's about finding solutions that are fair and practical, considering all sides of an issue. A reasonable price is one that feels just right—not too high and not too low. You would expect a reasonable explanation for why your flight was delayed, something beyond "the pilot felt like it."

Examples

  1. 1

    Prices

    The rent is reasonable for this part of the city.

  2. 2

    Planning

    That sounds like a reasonable plan.

  3. 3

    Explanation

    The manager gave us a reasonable explanation for the delay.

  4. 4

    Refund request

    I think it's reasonable to ask for a refund when the product breaks after a week.

    • Patternreasonable to + verb

      fair or sensible

More examples
  1. 5

    Emotional reaction

    After all the delays, it's reasonable for passengers to feel frustrated.

    • Patternreasonable for + person to feel ...

      understandable if they feel that way

  2. 6

    Practical limits

    Be reasonable, Sam. We can't fit twelve people in one car.

  3. 7

    Limits

    I'm happy to make a few changes, but only within reason.

    • Phrasewithin reason

      only to a sensible degree

  4. 8

    Legal proof

    In court, guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

    • Phrasebeyond a reasonable doubt

      with no important doubt left

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • reasonable doubt
  • reasonable price
  • reasonable request
  • reasonable person

Word family

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Forms and spellings

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Main spelling

  • reasonableadjective