Purpose vs. Reason

Purpose vs. Reason — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Purpose and Reason

Purposenoun

An object to be reached; a target; an aim; a goal. "purpose".

Reasonnoun

A cause:

Purposenoun

A result that is desired; an intention.

Reasonnoun

That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.

The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted.

Purposenoun

The act of intending to do something; resolution; determination.

Reasonnoun

A motive for an action or a determination.

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.
ADVERTISEMENT

Purposenoun

The subject of discourse; the point at issue.

Reasonnoun

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.

Purposenoun

The reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way.

The purpose of turning off the lights overnight is to save energy.

Reasonnoun

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

Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues.

Purposenoun

(obsolete) Instance; example.

Reasonnoun

(obsolete) Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.

ADVERTISEMENT

Purposeverb

(intransitive) To have set as one's purpose; resolve to accomplish; intend; plan.

Reasonnoun

Ratio; proportion.

Purposeverb

To design for some purpose.

Reasonverb

(intransitive) To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational

Purposeverb

To discourse.

Reasonverb

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

Purposenoun

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;

his intent was to provide a new translationgood intentions are not enoughit was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needshe made no secret of his designs

Reasonverb

(intransitive) To converse; to compare opinions.

Purposenoun

what something is used for;

the function of an auger is to bore holesballet is beautiful but what use is it?

Reasonverb

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

I reasoned the matter with my friend.

Purposenoun

the quality of being determined to do or achieve something;

his determination showed in his every movementhe is a man of purpose

Reasonverb

To support with reasons, as a request.

Purposeverb

propose or intend;

I aim to arrive at noon

Reasonverb

(transitive) To persuade by reasoning or argument.

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

Purposeverb

reach a decision;

he resolved never to drink again

Reasonverb

To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons.

to reason down a passion

Reasonverb

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

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

Reasonnoun

a rational motive for a belief or action;

the reason that war was declaredthe grounds for their declaration

Reasonnoun

an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon;

the reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly

Reasonnoun

the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination;

we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil

Reasonnoun

the state of having good sense and sound judgment;

his rationality may have been impairedhe had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions

Reasonnoun

a justification for something existing or happening;

he had no cause to complainthey had good reason to rejoice

Reasonnoun

a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion;

there is reason to believe he is lying

Reasonverb

decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion;

We reasoned that it was cheaper to rent than to buy a house

Reasonverb

present reasons and arguments

Reasonverb

think logically;

The children must learn to reason