consideration
kuhn-sihd-uh-RAY-shuhn
Consideration (noun) means Careful thought given to something before deciding or acting. Example: “After much consideration, she decided to accept the job.”
noun
1
Careful thought given to something before deciding or acting.
"After much consideration, she decided to accept the job."
"The committee will give your request careful consideration next week."
"Please take your time, because this decision deserves serious consideration."
2
Thoughtfulness and care for the needs or feelings of others.
"He showed great consideration in how he broke the news."
"Out of consideration for the sleeping baby, they spoke in whispers."
"She treated the nervous newcomers with kindness and consideration."
3
In law, something of value exchanged as part of a binding agreement.
"The contract was void because there was no consideration given by either party."
"Paying a single pound can count as valid consideration for a contract."
"The lawyer explained that a promise without consideration is usually not enforceable."
How to use consideration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCareful thought about something, or being thoughtful toward others; in law, the thing of value swapped in a deal.
Common pairings
take into consideration
show consideration
under consideration
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Word forms
- Plural
- considerations
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After much _____, she decided to accept the job.
Etymology
From Old French consideracion, from Latin consideratio, built on considerare, "to examine carefully."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for consideration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for consideration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “consideration” mean?
The word “consideration” means careful thought given to something before deciding or acting. In plain terms, careful thought about something, or being thoughtful toward others; in law, the thing of value swapped in a deal.
How do you pronounce “consideration”?
“Consideration” is pronounced kuhn-sihd-uh-RAY-shuhn (/kənˌsɪd.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “consideration” in a sentence?
Here is “consideration” used in a sentence: “After much consideration, she decided to accept the job.”
What is another word for “consideration”?
Words with a similar meaning to “consideration” include cogitation, contemplation, deliberation, mulling, musing and pondering.
What part of speech is “consideration”?
“Consideration” is a noun.
Where does the word “consideration” come from?
The word “consideration” comes from Latin. From Old French consideracion, from Latin consideratio, built on considerare, "to examine carefully.".
Is “consideration” a common word?
“Consideration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “consideration” have?
“Consideration” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: careful thought given to something before deciding or acting.
What is the difference between "consideration" and "kindness"?
In its second sense, consideration means thoughtful care for other people's needs and feelings, which overlaps with kindness. Consideration specifically implies paying attention to how your actions affect others, while kindness is broader and includes generous or warm behaviour of any kind.
When do you use "consideration" instead of "thought"?
"Consideration" suggests deliberate, careful thought given before deciding or acting, and sounds more formal than the plain word "thought." You would say a proposal is "under consideration" in a professional context, where "thought" alone would feel too casual.
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