Reasoning
noun /ˈriːzənɪŋ/ — The process of thinking things through — using logic and evidence to reach conclusions.
Definition
The action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way; the forming of conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.
Beyond the definition
Reasoning is the foundation of intellectual life — without it, we are at the mercy of what we happen to feel. Good reasoning is a discipline and a practice. The person who can reason well about a problem is more likely to arrive at a position they can defend and revise.
Origin & history
From Old French raison — reason (from Latin rationem: account, reason, from reri: to calculate). Calculating — reason as the accounting, the reckoning from evidence.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her reasoning was transparent: she showed her work, and you could check it.
The reasoning seemed sound until you examined the premise — which was where it broke.
Good reasoning and good conclusions are related but not identical: you can reason well from a false premise.
Synonyms
Antonyms
irrationality, intuition, impulse
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Methodical Pursuit of Truth
An adult works at a table, carefully arranging interlocking wooden pieces into an ordered structure in bright, even light.
The meticulous, step-by-step arrangement of pieces reflects the action of reasoning. By thinking about how the pieces must fit together to create a stable, sensible structure, the adult demonstrates a methodical, logical approach to solving a problem through careful investigation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration