To consider (verb) — to think carefully about something, especially before making a decision; to regard or judge someone or something in a particular way; to take a fact or circumstance into account when forming a judgement.
What Does Consider Mean?
Consider entered English in the 14th century via Old French considerer, from Latin considerare — a compound of con- (thoroughly) and sidus (star, constellation). Roman augurs would study the positions of the stars before making important decisions; the original literal sense was therefore "to observe the stars carefully". Over the following centuries, the meaning broadened from celestial observation to any kind of careful, purposeful mental deliberation.
In modern British English, consider carries three overlapping senses: deliberation before a decision (Please consider all options); an evaluative judgement about someone or something (I consider this approach risky); and taking circumstances into account (We must consider the financial impact). All three share the core idea of directing attentive, thoughtful effort towards something rather than reacting impulsively.
The word is particularly frequent in formal and academic English — reports, proposals, legal documents, and arguments. Mastering consider and its word family (consideration, considerable, considerate, reconsider) will noticeably raise the register and precision of your writing.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & Note |
|---|---|
| Please consider all options before making a decision. | A2 — basic imperative; consider + noun phrase |
| We are considering moving to a smaller flat next year. | B1 — consider + gerund; planning context |
| The manager considered the new proposal carefully before responding. | B1 — past simple; adverb modifier |
| She is widely considered to be one of the leading experts in the field. | B2 — passive construction; formal register |
| Any viable solution must consider the long-term environmental consequences as well as immediate economic factors. | C1 — complex sentence; academic writing |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| seriously consider | You should seriously consider applying for the scholarship. |
| carefully consider | The board carefully considered the merger proposal. |
| consider an option | Have you considered the option of working from home? |
| consider the consequences | Always consider the consequences before acting impulsively. |
| consider a possibility | We should at least consider the possibility of failure. |
| under consideration | Several candidates are currently under consideration for the role. |
| consider it done | "Can you book the room?" — "Consider it done." |
| all things considered | All things considered, the event went rather well. |
| consider yourself | You can consider yourself officially part of the team. |
| consider the implications | The committee needs to consider the wider implications of this policy. |
Usage Notes
- Consider + gerund, not infinitive: When consider means "think about doing", it takes an -ing form. Say I am considering leaving, not I am considering to leave. This is one of the most common errors made by ESL learners at B1–B2 level.
- Consider + object + adjective or noun: When consider means "regard as", use an object followed by an adjective or noun complement — I consider it essential or They consider her an expert. In formal British English, avoid inserting as: consider him as a friend is widespread in American English but is generally avoided in formal British writing.
- Passive construction: The passive is considered is very common in formal and academic registers — This method is considered the most reliable. The agent is often omitted because it is general or unknown.
- Register: Consider is more formal than think about. In everyday conversation, think about or look at are more natural; in professional emails, reports, and essays, prefer consider.
- Word family: Learn these together — consideration (noun: give careful consideration); considerable (adjective: a considerable amount); considerate (adjective with a different meaning: thoughtful and kind towards others); inconsiderate (adjective: lacking thought for others); reconsider (verb: think again after an initial decision).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I am considering to change my job.
I am considering changing my job. (consider + gerund, not infinitive)
She considers him as the best candidate. (informal AmE — avoid in formal British writing)
She considers him the best candidate. (consider + object + noun, no "as" needed in British English)
We considered about the risks.
We considered the risks. (consider is transitive — no preposition required)