# for what reason

**Pronunciation:** fɔːr wɒt ˈriːzən · for WOT REE-zun

**CEFR level:** A2

**Part of speech:** phrase

## Meaning

A formal or emphatic way of asking why something happened or why someone took a specific action.

## Examples

- For what reason did you decide to leave your previous job so suddenly?
- The committee demanded to know for what reason the budget had been exceeded.
- I cannot understand for what reason they would choose to ignore such clear evidence.

## Synonyms

- why — The most common and neutral way to ask for a reason.
- how come — An informal way to ask for a reason, common in casual speech.
- what for — Often used to ask about the purpose or intended outcome of an action.
- on what grounds — A highly formal or legalistic way to ask for the justification of a decision.

## Collocations

- ask for what reason — He asked for what reason the meeting was cancelled.
- demand to know for what reason — The manager demanded to know for what reason the report was late.
- explain for what reason — Please explain for what reason you were absent yesterday.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/for%20what%20reason

[Browse the English learner dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english)