considerable
kuhn-SIH-duh-ruhbl
Considerable (adjective) means Large enough in size, amount, or degree to be important. Example: “The project required a considerable amount of funding.”
adjective
1
Large enough in size, amount, or degree to be important.
"With the cutting out of the previous recovery times for electrification work, curtailment of station times and acceleration, considerable reductions have been made in the overall schedules."
— , The North-East London electrification of the Great Eastern Line (1961)
"The project required a considerable amount of funding."
"She has considerable experience in negotiation."
"It took considerable effort to carry the sofa up three flights of stairs."
How to use considerable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBig enough to matter or be worth noticing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
considerable amount
considerable effort
considerable damage
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like considerable.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- considerables
- Comparative
- more considerable
- Superlative
- most considerable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The project required a _____ amount of funding.
Etymology
From consider plus -able, "able to be considered," which shifted over time to mean "significant."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for considerable
See all rhymes for considerable →Frequently asked questions
What does “considerable” mean?
The word “considerable” means large enough in size, amount, or degree to be important. In plain terms, big enough to matter or be worth noticing.
How do you pronounce “considerable”?
“Considerable” is pronounced kuhn-SIH-duh-ruhbl (/kənˈsɪdəɹəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “considerable” in a sentence?
Here is “considerable” used in a sentence: “The project required a considerable amount of funding.”
What is the opposite of “considerable”?
The opposite of “considerable” — its antonyms — are ignorable and negligible.
What part of speech is “considerable”?
“Considerable” is an adjective.
Is “considerable” a common word?
“Considerable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "considerable" and "considerate"?
"Considerable" means large enough in size, amount, or degree to be important, as in "a considerable sum of money." "Considerate" is unrelated and means thoughtful of other people's feelings. The two are frequently confused because they look similar, but they are not interchangeable.
When should you use "considerable" instead of "substantial"?
Both describe an amount large enough to matter, and they are often interchangeable. "Considerable" tends to emphasise that something is notable or worth taking into account, while "substantial" can also suggest solid physical bulk or firmness. For most references to quantity or degree, either word works.
What words commonly follow "considerable"?
"Considerable" frequently pairs with abstract nouns such as amount, time, effort, expense, damage, and influence, as in "considerable effort" or "considerable damage." It usually describes something measurable or significant rather than the shape of a physical object.
Is "considerable" formal or informal?
"Considerable" is fairly formal and common in writing, news reports, and academic or professional contexts. In casual speech, people more often say "a lot," "loads," or "quite a bit" to express the same idea.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include considerable:
