reconsider
Americanverb (used with object)
-
reconsiders,
present (3rd person singular)
-
reconsidered,
past participle, past
-
reconsidering
present participle
-
to consider again, especially with a view to change of decision or action.
to reconsider a refusal.
- Synonyms:
- reevaluate, reexamine, review, rethink
-
Parliamentary Procedure. to take up for consideration a second time, as a motion or a vote, as with the view of reversing or modifying action taken.
verb (used without object)
-
reconsiders,
present (3rd person singular)
-
reconsidered,
past participle, past
-
reconsidering
present participle
verb
-
to consider (something) again, with a view to changing one's policy or course of action
-
(in a legislative assembly or similar body) to consider again (a bill or other matter) that has already been voted upon
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
reconsidersimple
-
reconsiderssimple
-
have reconsideredperfect
-
has reconsideredperfect
-
am reconsideringprogressive
-
are reconsideringprogressive
-
is reconsideringprogressive
-
have been reconsideringperfect progressive
-
has been reconsideringperfect progressive
Past
-
reconsideredsimple
-
had reconsideredperfect
-
was reconsideringprogressive
-
were reconsideringprogressive
-
had been reconsideringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reconsider
Explanation
When you reconsider something, you think about it again or in a new way. You might decline your grandfather's invitation to the circus, but then reconsider when you see that Gunther the famous lion tamer is showing up. When you reconsider, you usually end up changing your mind about your initial decision or opinion. Your neighbor might be planning to vote for a candidate you dislike; however, if you do a good enough job arguing in favor of a different candidate, she might reconsider her vote. The Latin root of consider is considerare, "look at closely," or "observe the stars." Reconsider adds the "again" prefix re-.
Vocabulary lists containing reconsider
re-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
re-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 5, Week 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Wade’s sentence was reduced by 10 years after Wade’s attorney petitioned the judge to reconsider the sentence imposed for Wade’s gun charges, the Mercury News reported.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
Such systems might alert clinicians when a new medication appears to be treating a known side effect of an existing drug, giving them an opportunity to reconsider the treatment plan before adding another prescription.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
Longer-term, Citi sees further risk to Swedish banks’ costs of equity from bank taxes and a challenged market share backdrop, which may prompt investors to reconsider Swedish banks as the “safe haven” they once were.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
By that time, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri had already spoken with Messi over the phone to try to convince the Barcelona star to reconsider.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Does that make you want to reconsider your decision?
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Oil futures extended their rally with Brent rising for a fifth straight session as the market reconsiders reports of progress toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The FCA also wants the Supreme Court to make a quick decision when it reconsiders the Court of Appeal's ruling.
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2025
And he reconsiders how he’d react if he were in James’ shoes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2024
“We hope the federal government reconsiders and allows the fun and informative phrases to continue on Arizona’s highway message signs.”
From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2024
He fiddles with the batteries, reconsiders the antennas, triple-checks fuses.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Reddington said he intended to file another motion, which essentially requests for the mistrial to be reconsidered.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Her lawyer might try to have her bail reconsidered, but the fact that there’s been a mistrial doesn’t really change Clancy’s circumstances.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
But when Madkaur later came across Hagisufi while swiping through the dating site Plenty of Fish, he reconsidered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
But those strategies may need to be reconsidered if mammalian metabolism, rather than microbes, is responsible for much of what circulates in the body.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
Crazy in love, the two talked about running off to get hitched right then, but reconsidered, deciding to marry at his next training venue and live together there until he was deployed.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
The researchers nevertheless considered their findings serious enough to warrant reconsidering the sweetener's safety.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
Abend, a family office executive in New York, is one of many who are reconsidering their fight against forehead lines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“When we’re all sitting there saying, ‘No, that doesn’t gain an unfair advantage,’ then that’s when we have to start reconsidering things back to the spirit of the law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
The Duke of Sussex is reconsidering plans to bring his wife and children to the UK next month after his request for police protection was rejected, the BBC understands.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
I tapped a finger to my lips as if reconsidering.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
