consider

Alternative forms

• considre (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English consideren, from Middle French considerer, from Latin considerare.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kənˈsɪdə/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /kənˈsɪdɚ/, [kənˈsɪɾ.ɚ], [kn̩ˈsɪɾ.ɚ]

  • Audio (California):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /kənˈsɪdə/
• Rhymes: -ɪdə(ɹ)

Verb

consider (third-person singular simple present considers, present participle considering, simple past and past participle considered)

1. (transitive) To think about seriously.

   Synonyms: bethink, reflect (on); see also Thesaurus:ponder

   Consider that we’ve had three major events and the year has hardly begun.

   How can you know everything about everything, if you won't consider any dissent?

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     Thenceforth to speculations high or deep / I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind / Considered all things visible.

   • 2014 March 15, “Turn it off”, in The Economist, volume 410, number 8878:

     If the takeover is approved, Comcast would control 20 of the top 25 cable markets, […]. Antitrust officials will need to consider Comcast’s status as a monopsony (a buyer with disproportionate power), when it comes to negotiations with programmers, whose channels it pays to carry.

2. (intransitive) To think about something seriously or carefully: to deliberate.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:ponder

3. (transitive) To think of doing.

   Synonyms: think of, bethink

   I’m considering going to the beach tomorrow.

4. (ditransitive) To assign some quality to.

   Synonyms: deem, regard, think of; see also Thesaurus:deem

   Consider yourself lucky, but consider your opponent skillful.

   I considered the pie undercooked.

   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:

     "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     ‘I understand that the district was considered a sort of sanctuary,’ the Chief was saying. ‘An Alsatia like the ancient one behind the Strand, or the Saffron Hill before the First World War. […]’

5. (transitive) To look at attentively.

   Synonyms: regard, observe; see also Thesaurus:pay attention

   She sat there for a moment, considering him.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 31:16:

     She considereth a field, and buyeth it.

6. (transitive) To take up as an example.

   Consider a triangle having three equal sides.

   • 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:

     Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.

7. (transitive, parliamentary procedure) To debate (or dispose of) a motion.

   Synonyms: deliberate, bethink

   This body will now consider the proposed amendments to Section 453 of the zoning code.

8. To have regard to; to take into view or account; to pay due attention to; to respect.

   He never seems to consider the feelings of others.

   Synonym: take into account

   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:

     Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day / Was yours by accident.

   • February 21, 1679, William Temple, letter to the Lord Treasurer

     England could grow into a posture of being more united at home, and more considered abroad.

9. To believe or opine (that).
   • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

     Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, […] .

   • 2021 October 1, J. Susan Griffin, “Party A v. British Columbia (Securities Commission), 2021 BCCA 358”, in CanLII‎, retrieved 3 October 2021:

     What is clear is that the courts in both Alberta and Ontario consider that there must be some preliminary assessment of the evidence of alleged breaches of the relevant Act when considering whether a freeze order is justified at the investigation stage.

Anagrams

• considre, decorins

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [konˈsider]

Verb

consider

1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of considera