consider
Americanverb (used with object)
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considers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
considered,
past participle, past
-
considering
present participle
-
to think carefully about, especially in order to make a decision; contemplate; reflect on.
He considered the cost before buying the new car.
- Synonyms:
- weigh, deliberate, ponder
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to regard as or deem to be.
I consider the story improbable.
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to think, believe, or suppose.
We consider his reply unsatisfactory.
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to bear in mind; make allowance for.
The arrest was justified if you consider his disorderly behavior.
-
to pay attention to; regard.
He considered the man for some time before speaking to him.
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to regard with respect, thoughtfulness, honor, etc.; esteem.
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to think about (something that one might do, accept, buy, etc.).
to consider a job in Guatemala.
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Obsolete. to view attentively; scrutinize.
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Obsolete. to recompense or remunerate.
verb (used without object)
-
considers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
considered,
past participle, past
-
considering
present participle
-
to think deliberately or carefully; reflect.
-
to view carefully or thoughtfully.
verb
-
(also intr) to think carefully about or ponder on (a problem, decision, etc); contemplate
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(may take a clause as object) to judge, deem, or have as an opinion
I consider him a fool
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to have regard for; respect
consider your mother's feelings
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to look at; regard
he considered her face
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(may take a clause as object) to bear in mind as possible or acceptable
when buying a car consider this make
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to describe or discuss
in this programme we consider the traffic problem
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(may take a clause as object) to keep in mind and make allowances (for)
consider his childhood
Usage
What is a basic definition of consider? Consider means to think carefully about something, to deem one thing as being another, or to believe something. Consider has several other senses as a verb. When you are considering something, you are thinking very hard and very seriously about it, especially when you have to make a decision. The act of considering or something that is considered is called consideration.
- Real-life examples: An investor considers how risky a business is before giving money to it. Hollywood casting agencies consider many different actors and actresses for roles before choosing people. You might consider whether studying for tests will improve your grades (spoiler alert: it will).
- Used in a sentence: I didn’t consider my friend’s peanut allergy when deciding where we should eat lunch.
- Real-life examples: The Beatles are considered both a rock band and a pop group by most people. Black is not considered an appropriate color for a wedding dress. Almost everyone considers not saying “please” and “thank you” to be rude behavior.
- Used in a sentence: I don’t consider a hot dog a sandwich.
- Used in a sentence: My teacher considered my essay to be too short and made me write it again.
Synonym Usage
See study.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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considersimple
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considerssimple
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have consideredperfect
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has consideredperfect
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am consideringprogressive
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are consideringprogressive
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is consideringprogressive
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have been consideringperfect progressive
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has been consideringperfect progressive
Past
-
consideredsimple
-
had consideredperfect
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was consideringprogressive
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were consideringprogressive
-
had been consideringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of consider
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consideren (from Anglo-French ) from Latin consīderāre “to examine,” equivalent to con- con- + sīder- (stem of sīdus ) “star-group, sky” ( see sidereal) + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
Consider is a verb that simply means to think about, look at, or judge. Consider, for a moment, the perks of house sitting for your pool-owning neighbors before you immediately refuse their request. Coming to us from the Latin word considerare, meaning “to look at closely" or "observe,” consider is a very common word that describes something you likely do multiple times a day: You probably consider what to wear in the morning, weigh your options for lunch, take into account the weather when deciding to grab your umbrella. Your life is full of consideration and you didn't even know it!
Vocabulary lists containing consider
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"The claim is dismissed because the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to consider it," the tribunal said.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Cole doesn’t consider travel a cure-all for poor mental health, but she thinks it belongs in the same conversation as the other things doctors tell aging patients to give priority to.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Tennille Amor, a singer-songwriter based in California, said she doesn’t consider herself a “Candace fan” — meaning she “wouldn’t follow her off a cliff or anything” — but she does respect Owens.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
But consider what the public health communicators are up against.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
“And consider this possibility: Is believing you’re selfish one of your automatic negative thoughts?”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
His voice goes dark as he considers what’s next.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Alison Green solicited reader anecdotes about how their dogs-at-work policies have played out and considers the issue from all angles.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
Sometimes clients come to Letsch having already tried to spend down as much as they can, but she considers that a mistake.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The AI spending boom is outrunning Wall Street estimates, Trump considers changing capital-gains taxes, China’s property crisis isn’t over, and more news to start your day.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Nowhere does he acknowledge that there was such a thing as ‘natural science’; in the text he considers only natural philosophy and mathematics, not ‘physiology’, ‘physics’, etc.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
The first time, following her bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, Liu considered herself retired at age 16.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Desperate for cash to meet margin calls from lenders, he considered unloading a $3.5 billion stake in Anthropic before deciding to dump most of his public portfolio instead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
That persistent inflammation is considered a major feature of aging and many age-associated diseases.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026
The influencer said she considered herself very conservative and voted for Trump, but in recent months she has started to criticize some of the administration’s decisions.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Boaz considered ditching Daniel no less than ten times between his house and Williamsburg.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
With days left in the legislative session, California lawmakers are considering several high-stakes energy and environment bills.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
After considering a sale of part of his fund’s $5 billion stake in Anthropic, the hedge-fund manager agreed to a fire sale of the bulk of its stock portfolio to Ken Griffin’s investment firm Citadel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Leeds are also considering back-up options for forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha and have also been linked with Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, if Lucas Perri joins Torino on loan as expected.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
When considering relocation options, you get to decide, perhaps for the first time, what climate will bring you the most joy.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The badger grimaced, as if some deep, unwelcome part of her was considering this new fate.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
