reasonable

IPA/ˈriːznəbl/
KK[rˈizənəbəl]IPA/ˈriːznəbl/

reasonable — adjective

  • reasonablepositive
  • more reasonablecomparative
  • most reasonablesuperlative

1. showing clear thinking and good judgment, so that decisions and actions come out

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

showing clear thinking and good judgment, so that decisions and actions come out fair and practical

Example

The judge said the tenant's offer was reasonable under the circumstances.

predicative use after linking verb

It is not reasonable to expect children to sit still for three hours.

it is reasonable + to-infinitive for logical expectation

Common collocations
  • reasonable person
  • reasonable argument
  • reasonable decision
  • reasonable offer
  • reasonable solution
  • reasonable doubt
Synonyms
  • sensible

    focuses more on practical wisdom and avoiding foolishness

  • rational

    emphasizes logical, systematic thinking; can sound emotionality dry

  • logical

    stresses step-by-step reasoning that follows from given facts

  • fair

    highlights the impartial, just outcome rather than the thought process

Antonyms
  • unreasonable

    not based on good judgment; expecting too much or refusing to see sense

  • irrational

    not guided by logic or reason; driven by emotion or faulty thinking

Grammar Patterns

reasonable + noun (person, argument, decision, solution, offer)

it is reasonable + to-infinitive

verb + noun phrase + reasonable

Usage Note

Subject of the 'it is reasonable to' pattern is usually a general expectation or social rule, not a specific person's desire.

Common Mistakes

He made a rational decision not to walk home alone at night.
He made a reasonable decision not to walk home alone at night.
'rational' sounds cold or purely logical for everyday safety; 'reasonable' fits practical human judgment better.
The manager was very reasonable with me.' (when meaning polite)
The manager was very reasonable with me.
this is correct. But ❌ 'Her request was very reasonable and she said please.' ✅ 'Her request was very reasonable; she explained why she needed the change.' — 'reasonable' is about fairness and good judgment, not about being polite.

2. fair and good enough for a particular situation, without being too much or too l

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

fair and good enough for a particular situation, without being too much or too little

Example

The teacher said seventy percent was a reasonable result for the first test.

reasonable + result — describing adequacy

Noa offered a reasonable excuse for arriving late to the meeting.

Common collocations
  • reasonable excuse
  • reasonable time
  • reasonable request
  • reasonable amount
  • perfectly reasonable
  • reasonable doubt
Synonyms
  • acceptable

    more direct; simply means good enough without extra nuance of moderation

  • fair

    emphasizes that the quantity, price, or arrangement is just and not one-sided

  • appropriate

    focuses on suitability for the specific context rather than moderate amount

Antonyms
  • unacceptable

    not good enough for the situation; crossing a limit of what should be tolerated

  • excessive

    far beyond what is appropriate or fair

Grammar Patterns

reasonable + noun (excuse, time, request, amount, price)

seems / sounds / looks reasonable

perfectly + reasonable

Usage Note

This sense judges whether something is appropriate for the circumstances, not whether it is logically sound. Frequently used with 'perfectly' for emphasis.

Common Mistakes

I asked for a reasonable discount of eighty percent.
I asked for a reasonable discount of ten percent.
eighty percent off is not appropriate or fair for most situations; 'reasonable' means suitable and moderate.
The soup was reasonable.' (when meaning the soup tasted okay)
The soup was acceptable.' or 'The soup was reasonable given the price.
'reasonable' alone about food quality is ambiguous; use 'acceptable' for bare adequacy unless you link it to price or situation.

3. costing an amount that feels fair and not too high for what you get

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

costing an amount that feels fair and not too high for what you get

Example

The hotel offered a reasonable rate for a room with a sea view.

collocation: reasonable rate

Layla found a reasonable café where lunch costs under ten euros.

Common collocations
  • reasonable price
  • reasonable rate
  • reasonable cost
  • reasonable rent
  • reasonable fee
  • reasonable for
Synonyms
  • affordable

    stresses that the buyer has enough money to pay; more about the buyer's budget

  • fair

    emphasizes that the price matches the value without overcharging

  • moderate

    slightly more formal; suggests the price is in the middle range, neither cheap nor expensive

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

reasonable + noun (price, rate, cost, fee, rent)

seems / sounds / is reasonable

reasonable for + noun phrase

Usage Note

Describes the cost relative to the value received, not the absolute price. A fifty-dollar meal can be reasonable at a fine restaurant but unreasonable at a fast-food counter.

Common Mistakes

I want a cheap car that will last ten years.
I want a car at a reasonable price that will last ten years.
'cheap' can suggest poor quality; 'reasonable' focuses on fair value for the quality.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all relate to good judgment, but with different angles. 'Sensible' is the closest to 'reasonable'—both describe practical decisions that avoid trouble, like 'It was sensible to bring an umbrella.' 'Rational' emphasizes cold, step-by-step logic ('a rational analysis of the data') and can sound inhuman in personal contexts. 'Logical' means the conclusion follows from the premises ('if A is bigger than B and B is bigger than C, then logically A is bigger than C'). 'Fair' focuses on the just, even-handed outcome rather than the thinking process. In everyday use, 'reasonable' is the broadest: a reasonable person can be both sensible and fair, without needing to be rigorously logical. Example: 'A reasonable boss listens to both sides before deciding.' A rational boss might follow company rules to the letter; a fair boss considers the human cost too.

sensible ↗rational ↗logical ↗fair ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • it is reasonable to
  • seems reasonable
  • sounds reasonable

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'rationabilis' (having reason or judgment), derived from 'ratio' (reason, calculation, account). Entered English through Old French 'raisonable' in the 1300s, originally meaning 'having sound reason.' Over centuries the meaning broadened from strict logical ability to include practical fairness and moderate cost.