considerate
Americanadjective
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showing kindly awareness or regard for another's feelings, circumstances, etc..
a very considerate critic.
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carefully considered; deliberate.
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marked by consideration or reflection; deliberate; prudent.
adjective
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thoughtful towards other people; kind
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rare carefully thought out; considered
Synonym Usage
See thoughtful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of considerate
First recorded in 1375–1425 for earlier sense; 1565–75 for current senses; late Middle English, from Latin consīderātus (past participle of consīderāre “to examine, consider” ), equivalent to consīderā- (stem of consīderāre ) + -tus past participle suffix; see consider
Explanation
Being considerate is being polite and caring. People like it when you're considerate of their feelings. We could all probably be more considerate of others: this word means you're thinking of other people — considering them — and then treating them decently and with respect. It's considerate to say "please" and "thank you" to people. It's considerate to excuse yourself, rather than walking out and slamming the door. Asking someone how they feel is usually considerate. A considerate person is kind and thoughtful — a good person to know.
Vocabulary lists containing considerate
Be Nice!
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'Tis The Season: Words For Giving
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"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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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.
“Etiquette is all about being considerate of your surroundings and the people around you,” she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Then two neighbors began, ironically, shouting outside my window about which of them was less considerate about the amount of noise they made.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Embrace community living: Be considerate of those you live with and respect shared areas.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Everybody I’ve ever worked with in that capacity has been so helpful and considerate, and I think it’s just a nice resource to have.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
Though he was generally polite and considerate of colleagues who did not realize the real meaning of their latest experiments, he would never hide this fact from them.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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.
