Meaning & use
considerately
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Meaning
adverbcomparable
In a way that shows you have thought about other people's feelings and needs and tried not to bother them.
Grammar: Modifies an action: he parked considerately. It can take more or most.
Patterns
- behave considerately
- treat someone considerately
She considerately turned down the music when she saw the baby asleep.
He considerately offered his seat to the elderly woman.
Please park considerately so that neighbors can still get out.
Word forms
| comparative | more considerately |
|---|---|
| superlative | most considerately |
Common combinations
- behave considerately
- Guests are asked to behave considerately in the shared kitchen.
- act considerately
- He acted considerately by calling ahead.
- drive considerately
- Drivers should drive considerately near schools.
- treat someone considerately
- The staff treated every visitor considerately.
- speak considerately
- She spoke considerately about her colleague's mistake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- thoughtfully
- It can mean either careful thinking or kindness, while considerately focuses on the effect on other people.
- kindly
- It is warmer and broader, whereas considerately is about avoiding inconvenience.
- politely
- It describes good manners, which can be cold, and does not require caring about someone's real needs.
- tactfully
- It is about avoiding hurt feelings in what you say, not about general helpfulness.
Opposites
Word family
- consider verb
- to think about carefully
- considerate adjective
- caring about other people's feelings
- consideration noun
- care for others or careful thought
- inconsiderate adjective
- not caring about others
Commonly confused: considerately or considerably?
considerately vs considerably
Considerably means by a large amount, as in prices rose considerably. Considerately means in a caring way.
Practice
The neighbors ____ warned us about the late-night party so we could prepare.
Choose one answer.
Considerately means showing thought for others. Considerably means by a great amount, which is a common mix-up.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “considerately”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.