Reasonable is an adjective describing something fair, moderate, or sensible enough to be acceptable, given the circumstances. It conveys balance between extremes and practicality, often implying sufficiency rather than perfection. In everyday usage, it signals a pragmatic, believable standard rather than an ideal or excessive standard.
US: rhotics are pronounced; maintain full /ɹ/. UK: non-rhotic often; /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl/ with lighter final rhymes and maybe less pronounced r. AU: similar to US but with stronger vowel clarity and a slightly longer, rounded /ɹ/; keep non-rolled but audible rhotic. Vowel guidance: /iː/ = long 'ee' sound; /ə/ is a schwa; /ɹ/ is a approximant; /ˈz/ is voiced. IPA references: /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl/ across dialects, with minor shifts in vowel duration and rhoticity depending on region.
"It seems reasonable to expect punctuality from everyone."
"Her proposal is reasonable and cost-effective for the project."
"We reached a reasonable compromise that satisfied both sides."
"That explanation is reasonable, given the available evidence."
Reasonable originates from the Middle English phrase 'reasons', ultimately tracing to Old French raisonnable, from raison (reason). The root reason derives from Latin ratio, meaning calculation, reckoning, or account. The suffix -able indicates capability or suitability. In late Middle English, the word acquired the sense of grounded, well-founded judgment: something that shows good reason or is supported by rational argument. Over centuries, the word broadened to describe actions, proposals, or people that are sensible, moderate, or fair under given conditions. Today, reasonable remains central in law, contract language, and everyday evaluative judgments, typically contrasting with excessive, irrational, or unreasonable alternatives. First known English attestations appear in legal and philosophical texts where rational, well-grounded criteria were emphasized. The evolution reflects a shift from mere calculation to evaluative adequacy, highlighting social expectations of fairness and practicality in decision-making.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Reasonable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Reasonable"
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Pronounce as three syllables: /ˈriː.zə.nə.bəl/. Primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a long 'ee' as in 'reed', then a light 'zh' schwa in the second syllable, followed by a soft 'nə' and a final unstressed 'bəl' sound. In careful speech, pronounce the final -ble clearly as /-bəl/; in fast speech you may hear /-bəl/ collapsing to /-bəl/ with reduced vowels. Audio references: you can compare with dictionary pronunciations at Cambridge or Oxford, or listen via Forvo or YouGlish by searching 'reasonable pronunciation'.
Two frequent errors: (1) Fusing it to two syllables like /ˈriː.zən/ or /ˈriː.zə.bl/ with a strong final -bl; this leaves off the final vowel and muddles cadence. (2) Reducing the middle syllable too aggressively, saying /ˈriː.zənə/ with a weak or non-existent /ə/ sound. Correction: keep a distinct /nə/ in the middle and articulate the final /əbəl/ as /bəl/ in fast speech. Also avoid slipping the first vowel into a monophthong; maintain /ˈriː/ for correct duration.
US: /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl/ with rhotic /ɹ/; clear three syllables, moderate final vowel. UK: /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl/ similar but with non-rhotic R in some contexts, potential diphthong variations on /iː/ and a lighter /ə/ in the middle. AU: /ˈɹiː.zən.ə.bəl/ often with closer vowel quality, more prominent rhotics in connected speech, and slightly longer vowel in /iː/. Across all, the stress remains on the first syllable; the middle /ə/ is a weak vowel; the final /əl/ may be realized as /əl/ or /l/ depending on speed.
Because it includes a long first vowel, a light middle reduced syllable, and a final unstressed -ble cluster that often softens in connected speech. The sequence /ˈriː.zə.nə.bəl/ requires switching from a tense first vowel to a schwa in the middle and an unstressed, vowel-reduced final. People often mis-stress it, slide the middle vowel, or drop the final schwa in rapid conversation. Focusing on maintaining distinct syllables while letting the final -ble relax helps with clarity.
A distinctive aspect of Reasonable is the stability of the middle syllable /zə/ across dialects, which remains a soft, almost schwa-like vowel despite surrounding more defined vowels. Some speakers reduce /ə/ to /ɪ/ or omit it in casual speech, which can shift rhythm. Keeping the /zə/ as a light, unstressed syllable helps maintain the intended cadence and distinguishes legitimate speech from rapid, clipped forms.
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