considerable
Americanadjective
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rather large or great in size, distance, extent, etc..
It cost a considerable amount. We took a considerable length of time to decide.
-
worthy of respect, attention, etc.; important; distinguished.
a considerable person.
noun
adverb
adjective
-
large enough to reckon with
a considerable quantity
-
a lot of; much
he had considerable courage
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worthy of respect
a considerable man in the scientific world
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of considerable
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin consīderābilis, from consīderā(re) “to examine” ( see consider) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Use the adjective considerable to describe something that is large in amount. Things you probably spend a considerable amount of time on: homework and laundry. Things you'd rather spend time on: anything that isn't homework and laundry! The adjective considerable can describe something of importance and is worthy of notice or respect. If you are an excellent singer, dancer, musician, writer, or similar profession, people may ask you to donate your considerable talents to charitable causes. If you're not an excellent singer, dancer, musician, or writer, they will still ask you to donate, but they are more likely to ask for money!
Vocabulary lists containing considerable
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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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.
That process can take considerable time, and every additional cycle creates another opportunity for outside disturbances to interfere with the calculation.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
But unless your club is extraordinarily broad-minded, you might cause considerable consternation by exposing fellow bookworms to Mr. Warren-Smith’s gleeful, demented diversions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
"The consequences could be considerable, making it easier for misinformation to spread more quickly," said Alejandro Martin del Campo, a media expert at Mexico's Tecnologico de Monterrey.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
As you may remember from high school, most maps of the world use the Mercator projection, which features considerable distortions, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026
One of their main reasons for choosing to walk to the parade site was their belief that it would capture considerable publicity for the suffragists’ cause.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
