reasonable

adjective

SayREE-zuh-nuh-buhl/ˈɹi.zə.nə.bəl/UK/ˈɹiː.zə.nə.bəl/AUSREEZ-nuh-buhl/ˈɹiːz.nə.bəl/

5 meanings of reasonable

1
sensibleadjective
Fair and just; in keeping with what makes sense.
Both sides agreed it was a reasonable compromise.
A reasonable person would weigh the evidence before passing judgment.
UsageOften it is reasonable to + verb (it's reasonable to expect a reply), or of people, be reasonable about something.
Similarfair, equitable, just
Oppositeunjust, absurd, arbitrary, unreasonable
2
kept in boundsadjective
Not excessive or beyond proper limits; staying within what is sensible and due.
The committee imposed reasonable restrictions on noise after midnight.
A reasonable workload still leaves time for rest.
Similarmoderate, modest, proper, temperate, measured
Oppositeexcessive, unreasonable
3
not expensiveadjective
Not expensive; priced fairly.
The restaurant offers good food at reasonable prices.
We found a hotel near the beach with surprisingly reasonable rates for August.
UsageLike cheap without the hint of poor quality. Used of prices and of places: reasonable prices, a very reasonable hotel.
Similaraffordable, inexpensive, cheap, economical, competitive
Oppositeexpensive, extortionate
4
fairly goodadjective
Good enough to satisfy; acceptable.
The team had a reasonable chance of winning the final.
His English is reasonable now, though he still struggles on long phone calls.
UsageMild praise: fairly good, not excellent. Common with chance, job and progress: a reasonable chance of winning.
Similaracceptable, adequate, decent, satisfactory, fair
Oppositeunsatisfactory

Less common meaning

5
adjectivearchaic
Having the power to think and reason; rational.
Similarrational
Oppositeirrational
Note
The sense closest to the word's Latin source, rationabilis, from ratio, "reason". It sorts beings by whether they have the power of reason. William Wood, in New Englands Prospect (1634), finds the beaver so wise it is almost "a reasonable creature." Because it is now archaic, a modern reader may hear the "fair" meaning instead. In current prose, rational or reasoning says this without that ambiguity.

Practice

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Origin

The word rests on Latin ratio, meaning 'reason': Late Latin rationabilis grew out of it, Old French made that resnable, and English took it over as Middle English resonable.