The difference between Cause and Reason

When used as nouns, cause means the source of, or reason for, an event or action, whereas reason means that which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.

When used as verbs, cause means to set off an event or action, whereas reason means to deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational.


check bellow for the other definitions of Cause and Reason

  1. Cause as a noun (countable, often with ''of'', typically of adverse results):

    The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

    Examples:

    "They identified a burst pipe as the cause of the flooding."

  2. Cause as a noun (uncountable, especially with ''for'' and a bare noun):

    Sufficient reason for a state, as of emotion.

    Examples:

    "There is no cause for alarm."

    "The end of the war was a cause for celebration."

  3. Cause as a noun (countable):

    A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

  4. Cause as a noun (obsolete):

    Sake; interest; advantage.

  5. Cause as a noun (countable, obsolete):

    Any subject of discussion or debate; a matter; an affair.

  6. Cause as a noun (countable, legal):

    A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

  1. Cause as a verb:

    To set off an event or action.

    Examples:

    "The lightning caused thunder."

  2. Cause as a verb:

    To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority.

    Examples:

    "His dogged determination caused the fundraising to be successful."

  3. Cause as a verb:

    To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Spenser"

  1. Reason as a noun (logic):

    A cause: That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause. A motive for an action or a determination. An excuse: a thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation. A premise placed after its conclusion.

    Examples:

    "The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted."

    "The reason I robbed the bank was that I needed the money."

    "If you don't give me a reason to go with you, I won't."

  2. Reason as a noun (uncountable):

    Rational thinking (or the capacity for it); the cognitive faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.

    Examples:

    "Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues."

  3. Reason as a noun (obsolete):

    Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.

  4. Reason as a noun (mathematics, obsolete):

    Ratio; proportion.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Barrow"

  1. Reason as a verb (intransitive):

    To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational

  2. Reason as a verb (intransitive):

    To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.

  3. Reason as a verb (intransitive):

    To converse; to compare opinions.

  4. Reason as a verb (transitive):

    To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.

    Examples:

    "I reasoned the matter with my friend."

  5. Reason as a verb (transitive, rare):

    To support with reasons, as a request.

  6. Reason as a verb (transitive):

    To persuade by reasoning or argument.

    Examples:

    "to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan"

  7. Reason as a verb (transitive, with ''[[down]]''):

    To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons.

    Examples:

    "to reason down a passion"

  8. Reason as a verb (transitive, usually with ''[[out]]''):

    To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument.

    Examples:

    "to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon"

Compare words: