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Definition of consider verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    consider

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//kənˈsɪdər//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they consider
     
    he / she / it considers
     
    past simple considered
     
    -ing form considering
     
     
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  1. 1[intransitive, transitive] to think about something carefully, especially in order to make a decision I'd like some time to consider. consider something She considered her options. Let us consider the facts. He was considering an appeal. a carefully considered response The company is being actively considered as a potential partner (= it is thought possible that it could become one). consider doing something We're considering buying a new car. You wouldn't consider marrying a man for his money, would you? consider how/what, etc… We need to consider how the law might be reformed. He was considering what to do next. Thesaurusexamine
    • consider
    • look at something
    • analyze
    • review
    • study
    • discuss
    These words all mean to think about, study, or describe someone or something carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them, or make a decision about them.
    • examine to think about, study, or describe an idea, subject, or piece of work very carefully:These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
    • consider to think carefully about something, especially in order to make a decision:She carefully considered her options.
    • look at something (somewhat informal) to consider, think about, or study something, especially in order to learn something useful or important:I'm going to look at the budget estimates on the weekend.
    • analyze to examine the nature or structure of something, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it:The job involves gathering and analyzing data. He tried to analyze his feelings.
    • review to examine something again, especially so that you can decide whether any changes need to be made:The government will review the situation later in the year.
    • study to examine someone or something in order to understand them or it:We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
    examine or study?
    • You examine something in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study something in order to understand it yourself.
    • discuss to write or talk about something in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it:This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter.
    Patterns
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence/implications
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss something carefully/critically/systematically/briefly
     Language Bankaboutsaying what a text is about
    • The book is about homeless people in the cities.
    • The report deals with the issue of homelessness in urban areas.
    • The writer discusses the problems faced by homeless people.
    • The article presents an overview of the issues surrounding homelessness.
    • The novel explores the theme of friendship among homeless people.
    • The first chapter examines the relationship between homelessness and drug addiction.
    • The paper considers the question of why so many young people become homeless.
  2. 2[transitive] to think of someone or something in a particular way consider somebody/something + noun consider somebody/something (to be) something consider somebody/something (as) something He considers himself an expert on the subject. This award is considered (to be) a great honor. These workers are considered (as) a high-risk group. consider somebody/something + adj. consider somebody/something (to be) something Consider yourself lucky you weren't fired. Whom do you consider (to be) responsible for the accident? consider somebody/something to do something He's generally considered to have the finest tenor voice in the country. consider (that)… She considers that it is too early to form a definite conclusion. The Attorney General will release prisoners only if he considers it is safe to do so. it is considered that… It is considered that the proposed development would create much-needed jobs. Thesaurusregard
    • call
    • find
    • consider
    • see
    • view
    These words all mean to think about someone or something in a particular way.
    • regard to think of someone or something in a particular way:He seemed to regard the whole thing as a joke.
    • call to say that someone or something has particular qualities or characteristics:I wouldn't call German an easy language.
    • find to have a particular feeling or opinion about something:You may find his story hard to believe.
    • consider to think of someone or something in a particular way:Whom do you consider (to be) responsible for the accident?
    regard or consider?These two words have the same meaning, but they are used in different patterns and structures. In this meaning, consider must be used with a complement or clause: you can consider somebody/something to be something or consider somebody/something as something, although very often the to be or as is left out:He considers himself an expert. They are considered a high-risk group.You can also consider that somebody/something is something and again, the that can be left out. Regard is used in a narrower range of structures. The most frequent structure is regard somebody/something as something; the as cannot be left out:I regard him a close friend.You cannotregard somebody/something to be somethingorregard that somebody/something is something. However, regard (but not consider in this meaning) can also be used without a noun or adjective complement but with just an object and adverb (somebody/something is highly regarded) or adverbial phrase (regard somebody/something with suspicion/jealousy/admiration).
    • see to have an opinion of something:Try to see things from her point of view.
    • view to think of someone or something in a particular way:How do you view your position within the company? View has the same meaning as regard and consider but is slightly less frequent and slightly less formal. The main structures are view somebody/something as somebody/something (you cannot leave out the as) and view somebody/something with something.
    Patterns
    • to regard/consider/see/view somebody/something as something
    • to regard/consider/see/view somebody/something from a particular perspective
    • to find/consider somebody/something to be something
    • generally/usually/often regarded/considered/seen/viewed as something
    • to regard/consider/view somebody/something favorably/unfavorably
  3. 3[transitive] consider somebody/something to think about something, especially the feelings of other people, and be influenced by it when making a decision, etc. You should consider other people before you act.
  4. 4[transitive] consider somebody/something (formal) to look carefully at someone or something He stood there, considering the painting.
    5. Thesaurusexamine
    • consider
    • look at something
    • analyze
    • review
    • study
    • discuss
    These words all mean to think about, study, or describe someone or something carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them, or make a decision about them.
    • examine to think about, study, or describe an idea, subject, or piece of work very carefully:These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
    • consider to think carefully about something, especially in order to make a decision:She carefully considered her options.
    • look at something (somewhat informal) to consider, think about, or study something, especially in order to learn something useful or important:I'm going to look at the budget estimates on the weekend.
    • analyze to examine the nature or structure of something, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it:The job involves gathering and analyzing data. He tried to analyze his feelings.
    • review to examine something again, especially so that you can decide whether any changes need to be made:The government will review the situation later in the year.
    • study to examine someone or something in order to understand them or it:We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
    examine or study?
    • You examine something in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study something in order to understand it yourself.
    • discuss to write or talk about something in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it:This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter.
    Patterns
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence/implications
    • to examine/consider/look at/analyze/review/study/discuss something carefully/critically/systematically/briefly
    Idioms
    all things considered
     
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    thinking carefully about all the facts, especially the problems or difficulties, of a situation She's had a lot of problems since her husband died but she seems quite cheerful, all things considered.
    your considered opinion
     
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    your opinion that is the result of careful thought
See consider in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: consider

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