reasonable
gb/ɹˈiznəbəl/ us/ɹˈiznəbəl/
A2
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Fair and sensible
Thinking or acting in a fair and sensible way.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is reasonable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'reasonable' with 'rational'—'reasonable' often implies fairness as well as logic, while 'rational' focuses only on logic.
Synonyms
sensible (Emphasizes practicality and good judgment.)
|
rational (Focuses on logic and clear thinking.)
Antonyms
unreasonable (Describes thinking or behavior that is not fair or sensible.)
|
irrational (Implies a lack of logical thinking.)
Collocations
reasonable person
|reasonable decision
|reasonable approach
|reasonable request
|perfectly reasonable
Themes
daily life
|communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It's reasonable to ask for more time to finish the project.
- She made a reasonable suggestion during the meeting.
- Most people think it's reasonable to save money for emergencies.
- The teacher offered a reasonable explanation for the change in schedule.
Learner examples
- It is reasonable to be careful.
- He made a reasonable plan for the trip.
- That is a reasonable question.
- My boss is very reasonable.
adjective
A2
property
2
Fair in amount or price
Not costing too much; fair in size or amount.
Usage pattern:
[something] is reasonable
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'reasonable' here with 'cheap'—'reasonable' means fair and not too high, but not necessarily very low.
Synonyms
affordable (Focuses on being within someone's budget.)
|
moderate (Suggests being within a middle range, not extreme.)
Antonyms
expensive (Costs too much money.)
|
excessive (Too high in amount or degree.)
Collocations
reasonable price
|reasonable cost
|reasonable fee
|reasonable rate
Themes
shopping
|economics
|daily life
|business
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The hotel offers rooms at a reasonable price.
- We found a restaurant with reasonable portions and good service.
- The repair bill was quite reasonable considering the work done.
Learner examples
- This shirt has a reasonable price.
- The ticket is reasonable for the show.
- We paid a reasonable fee.
adjective
B1
property
3
Within acceptable limits
Not too much or too little; acceptable in amount, time, or effort.
Usage pattern:
[something] is reasonable
Synonyms
acceptable (Meets general standards of appropriateness.)
|
moderate (Falls within middle limits, not extreme.)
Antonyms
unacceptable (Not meeting standards or limits.)
|
excessive (Going beyond what is appropriate.)
Collocations
reasonable time
|reasonable distance
|reasonable effort
Themes
daily life
|measurement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You should receive a reply within a reasonable time.
- It's a reasonable distance to walk from here to the station.
- We expect employees to work a reasonable number of hours.
Learner examples
- I will come in a reasonable time.
- It is a reasonable distance to the park.
- That is a reasonable amount of food.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reasonable
IPA
GB/ɹˈiznəbəl/
US/ɹˈiznəbəl/
Syllables & stress
reas - on - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (reas)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: reasonable
Word family
Core family
reason
noun A2
reasonably
adverb B1
Related words
reasoning
noun
reasonableness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unreasonable
adjective B1
unreasonably
adverb
Advanced or less common
unreasonableness
noun
Expressions
a reasonable doubt
2/ə ɹˈiznəbəl dˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
formal
Legal uncertainty preventing conviction
A level of uncertainty in law that means the person cannot be found guilty.
Examples
- The jury could not convict because there was a reasonable doubt about his guilt.
- In criminal cases, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
perfectly reasonable
1/pˈɚfəktli ɹˈiznəbəl/
fixed phrase
Completely fair and sensible
Very fair and sensible; easy to understand as right.
Examples
- It's perfectly reasonable to ask for help when you're struggling.
- Her concerns are perfectly reasonable given the situation.
within reason
1/wɪðˈɪn ɹˈizən/
fixed phrase
within sensible limits
Not going too far; in a fair or sensible way.
Examples
- You can borrow my car, within reason.
- I’ll help you as much as I can, within reason.
within reason
2/wɪðˈɪn ɹˈizən/
fixed phrase
acceptable and sensible limits
Allowed or possible but only up to a sensible limit.
Examples
- You can borrow the car anytime, within reason.
- We can negotiate the price, within reason.
within reason
3/wɪðˈɪn ɹˈizən/
fixed phrase
Within acceptable limits
As long as something stays fair, safe, or possible.
Examples
- You can borrow my car whenever you want, within reason.
- We encourage creativity, within reason, to keep projects on track.