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
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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:
If that same friend handed me a list of toilets to scrub before returning the keys, however, I might reconsider the friendship.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
A different set of fundamental dimensions could encourage researchers to reconsider how some of those findings are interpreted.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
“You were given the opportunity to reconsider your decision to deny access and declined,” the notice said, according to the complaint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
On Monday, the US advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Kenya because of health risks and raised its travel advisory level for the country.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Our plan was to ask the Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider its decision, and if that turned out to be a dead end, we would seek review in the Alabama Supreme Court.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
I hope Mr. Obama reconsiders his words and takes them back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
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
His comments come as the UK National Screening Committee reconsiders its decision from five years ago not to recommend routine screening.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2025
“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
More impressive still is that along the way they have thoroughly reconsidered the piano, finding the kaleidoscopic breadth that has lurked within it, incompletely exploited for more than two centuries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
If its reach has been misunderstood, other explanations built around the traditional model may also need to be reconsidered.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 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
A judge had also blocked that plan, but said it could be reconsidered after further review.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Though, of course, as soon as Joe left he reconsidered, wondering was he crazy to encourage such a hopeless and inflammatory act?
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
After reconsidering, Robbins asked Chris to arrange an appraisal.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
But some of those voters are now reconsidering their support.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
The festival was hearing from international attendees reconsidering trips to the United States, while some bands were deciding that touring here had become too difficult or expensive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The move highlights how some companies are reconsidering where they make goods as trade barriers increase the cost of serving customers from overseas.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Toby glanced at the plane, just long enough that Luke thought he might be reconsidering.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
