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-
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re-
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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:
Too few colleges and universities give priority to that same kind of transformation, but artificial intelligence should cause them to reconsider, and fast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Although the charges were later dropped, the whole experience forced Cohn to reconsider his place in the world.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
However, getting older prompted him to take a closer look at his priorities—and reconsider just how much of his life he wants to devote to work.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
However, Cara Lewis-Rimes and Dylan Killner said they might reconsider the habit in light of higher prices.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
It was enough to make him reconsider his options.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
Susan Cheever reads her father’s short stories and reconsiders her memories of him as parent and artist.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
Sunak is an ambassador for the Prostate Cancer Research charity, and made his comments as the UK National Screening Committee reconsiders its 2020 decision 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
Michael Ian Black is an interesting figure in the film as he reconsiders his own tweets at the time in support of a C.K. comeback.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2023
He turns away, then reconsiders, turns back, stooping toward me.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Under long-standing legal principles, a juvenile who is sentenced to murder can ask for their minimum term to be reconsidered once they have served half of that time.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 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
Despite this, the ABA has enjoyed an accreditation monopoly, which state policies have further entrenched, though some of those are now being reconsidered or repealed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
A judge had also blocked that plan, but said it could be reconsidered after further review.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
And then, as if he reconsidered this thought, he nodded toward the sleeping berth behind us.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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
However, Steffi Cao argues, many people are reconsidering how they shop for clothes.
From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2026
The researchers nevertheless considered their findings serious enough to warrant reconsidering the sweetener's safety.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 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
“Yes. Are you reconsidering my little pyrotectic plan?”
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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.
