consideration

consideration — noun

1. the act of giving your full attention to a matter over a period of time, weighin

1.nounB2
Definition

the act of giving your full attention to a matter over a period of time, weighing the pros and cons before reaching a conclusion or making a choice

Example

Erik's proposal received careful consideration from the management team.

collocation: careful consideration

After long consideration, the Tanaka family decided to sell their old house.

adverbial clause: After long consideration

Common collocations
  • careful consideration
  • serious consideration
  • give consideration
  • deserve consideration
  • under consideration
  • for consideration
  • long consideration
  • proper consideration
Synonyms
  • thought

    more general; any mental activity rather than focused analysis

  • deliberation

    implies a slower, more formal process, often in a group setting

  • reflection

    suggests quiet, calm thinking, often looking back at past events

Antonyms
  • neglect

    failure to give enough attention to something

  • disregard

    intentional lack of attention

Grammar Patterns

give + something + consideration

under + consideration

receive + consideration

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense. Commonly appears in the fixed phrases 'under consideration' (still being thought about) and 'for consideration' (to be thought about).

Common Mistakes

I will give it a consider.
I will give it some consideration.
'Consideration' is the noun form; 'consider' is a verb and cannot be used as a countable noun in this way.

2. a specific fact, situation, or subject you are required to weigh up or keep in m

2.nounB2
Definition

a specific fact, situation, or subject you are required to weigh up or keep in mind while you judge something or form a plan or opinion

Example

Cost was the main consideration when Anjali chose her new apartment.

pattern: [noun] + be + the main consideration

Safety is a key consideration for parents buying children's toys.

collocation: key consideration

Common collocations
  • important consideration
  • key consideration
  • major consideration
  • practical consideration
  • economic consideration
  • political consideration
  • design consideration
Synonyms
  • factor

    more neutral; a fact that influences a result, not necessarily requiring thought

  • issue

    suggests a topic or problem that needs discussion

  • concern

    emphasises worry or importance attached to the factor

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + consideration

consideration in + [noun phrase]

[noun phrase] + be + a + consideration

Usage Note

Countable in this sense. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'important', 'key', 'major', 'practical', 'economic'. Often appears as the subject of a sentence (e.g., 'Cost is a consideration').

Common Mistakes

The cost was an important consider.
The cost was an important consideration.
The noun form 'consideration' is needed here, not the verb 'consider'.

3. the act of including a specific fact or piece of information when you make a dec

3.nounB2
Definition

the act of including a specific fact or piece of information when you make a decision or form a judgement, so that it influences your final choice

Example

Taking the weather into consideration, Indra decided to move the party indoors.

pattern: take + something + into consideration

The judge took the defendant's age into consideration before passing sentence.

Common collocations
  • take into consideration
  • in consideration of
  • taken into consideration
Synonyms
  • account

    used in 'take into account' — essentially interchangeable, though 'account' is slightly more common in everyday speech

  • regard

    used in 'with regard to' or 'in regard to' — more formal, less action-oriented

Grammar Patterns

take + something + into consideration

in consideration of + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Not used as a standalone noun. Nearly always appears in the fixed patterns 'take something into consideration' or 'in consideration of something'. The passive form 'something is taken into consideration' is very common in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

We made a consideration of the budget.
We took the budget into consideration.
The correct collocation is 'take into consideration', not 'make a consideration of'.

4. kind and thoughtful behaviour that shows you care about the feelings, wishes, or

4.nounB2
Definition

kind and thoughtful behaviour that shows you care about the feelings, wishes, or needs of other people

Example

Talia showed great consideration by driving her elderly neighbour to the clinic.

pattern: show + consideration

Lucas had no consideration for other people's feelings when he made that remark.

Common collocations
  • show consideration
  • out of consideration
  • with consideration
  • have no consideration
  • lack of consideration
Synonyms
  • thoughtfulness

    very close in meaning; emphasises deliberate, pre-planned kindness

  • kindness

    broader; covers any generous or helpful act, not just thoughtfulness

  • regard

    more formal; implies respect combined with care

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

show + consideration + for/to

out of consideration + for

with + consideration

Usage Note

Uncountable. Often used in negative constructions ('no consideration for', 'without consideration') to criticise selfish behaviour. The adjective form is 'considerate'.

5. an amount of money someone receives in exchange for doing a piece of work or pro

5.nounC1
Definition

an amount of money someone receives in exchange for doing a piece of work or providing a favour, often modest in size compared with the true value

Example

The artist received a small consideration for allowing her work to be displayed.

collocation: small consideration

For a modest consideration, the porter carried their bags up to the hotel room.

pattern: for a [adjective] consideration

Common collocations
  • small consideration
  • modest consideration
  • nominal consideration
  • token consideration
  • for a consideration
Synonyms
  • payment

    general term for any money given; less formal and less specific than 'consideration'

  • fee

    a set charge for a professional service

  • compensation

    payment for loss, damage, or effort; often larger in amount

  • remuneration

    formal; payment for work done

Grammar Patterns

for a + [adjective] + consideration

Usage Note

Formal register. Common in legal and commercial contexts. Often paired with adjectives like 'small', 'nominal', 'token', or 'modest' to emphasise that the amount is not the full market price. In contract law, 'consideration' has a specific technical meaning (something of value exchanged between parties).

Common Mistakes

I paid a consideration for my groceries.
I paid five dollars' or 'I gave a small consideration to the porter.
This sense is not used for everyday shopping; it applies mainly to professional favours or legal arrangements.
Idioms

in consideration of something

idiom

Used to say that something is given as payment or reward for something else.

He received a bonus in consideration of his hard work.

The company offered a gift in consideration of her loyalty.

on mature reflection/consideration

idiom

After thinking about something carefully and for a long time.

On mature consideration, she decided to accept the job offer.

He changed his mind on mature reflection about the proposal.

take something into consideration

idiom

To think about and include a particular fact or detail when making a decision or forming an opinion.

The judge took the defendant's age into consideration before sentencing.

When planning the budget, we must take inflation into consideration.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Consideration, thought, deliberation, and reflection all involve mental activity, but they differ in focus and process. Consideration suggests careful, often prolonged weighing of options before a decision — it is practical and goal-oriented. Thought is the broadest term, covering any idea or mental process, from a quick notion to deep analysis. Deliberation implies a slower, more methodical process, often involving discussion with others in a formal setting like a jury or committee. Reflection suggests calm, unhurried thinking, typically looking back at past events, experiences, or ideas rather than planning ahead. For example, 'After much deliberation the committee reached a verdict' emphasises formal discussion, while 'She paused for reflection on her childhood' looks backward, and 'Give the matter some thought' is the most general way to ask someone to think.

thoughtdeliberationreflection ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take into consideration
  • in consideration of
  • under consideration
  • out of consideration for

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'consideration' comes from Latin 'consideratio', meaning 'a looking at closely' or 'contemplation'. The root verb 'considerare' originally meant 'to observe the stars', combining 'con-' (with) and 'sidus' (star). Over time the meaning shifted from literally looking at the heavens to the figurative act of careful examination. English borrowed it through Old French in the 14th century. The sense of 'payment' or 'reward' developed in legal English, where 'consideration' became the technical term for something of value exchanged between parties in a contract.