Considerate
/kənˈsɪdərət/
Definitions
Showing careful thought; especially towards the feelings of others.
/kənˈsɪdərət/
Showing concern and respect for the needs of others.
He was very considerate of his elderly neighbor, helping her with groceries.
💡 Simply: Being considerate is like thinking about how your actions affect other people and being nice and thoughtful to them. If your friend is sad, being considerate means asking if they're okay and trying to make them feel better.
👶 For kids: Being nice and thinking about how your actions make others feel.
More Examples
The considerate teacher took extra time to explain the difficult concept.
It was considerate of her to call and check if they'd arrived safely.
How It's Used
"It's important to be considerate of others' feelings in a conversation."
"A considerate partner always remembers special occasions."
"The manager was very considerate of her employees' time."
From Latin *consideratus*, past participle of *considerare* 'to examine closely, contemplate', from *con-* 'together' + *sidus* (genitive *sideris*) 'star, constellation' (implying to observe the stars as a means of foretelling or predicting). The sense shifted to 'taking into account the needs of others'.
Used in literature and philosophical writings since the late 17th century, often related to moral and ethical behavior.
Memory tip
Think of 'consider' and add -ate. A considerate person takes others' feelings into 'consider-ation'.
Word Origin
"to examine closely, contemplate"