considerable
B2formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
large in size, amount, or degree; significant enough to be noticed or have an effect
worthy of consideration or attention; having importance or value
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a degree that is noteworthy or substantial, but not necessarily extreme. Can describe abstract qualities (considerable effort) as well as concrete amounts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. Slightly more common in British formal writing.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties: implies significance, substance, or noteworthy amount.
Frequency
High frequency in both academic and professional contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[considerable] + noun (uncountable or plural)a [considerable] amount/number of + nounof [considerable] + noun (e.g., of considerable importance)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a considerable amount of legwork”
- “to give considerable thought to”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe significant investments, profits, losses, or market shares (e.g., 'The merger required considerable capital').
Academic
Common in research to describe substantial evidence, differences, or contributions (e.g., 'The study shows considerable variation').
Everyday
Describes noticeable amounts of time, effort, or money (e.g., 'It took considerable patience to assemble the furniture').
Technical
In engineering/sciences, denotes measurable, significant quantities or effects (e.g., 'The material exhibits considerable tensile strength').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The project required a considerable investment of time and resources.
- There's a considerable difference in quality between the two models.
- She has considerable experience in international law.
American English
- The storm caused considerable damage to the coastline.
- He felt considerable pressure to meet the deadline.
- The new policy attracted considerable attention from the media.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He spent a considerable time on his homework.
- It costs a considerable amount of money.
- The company made considerable progress last year.
- There is considerable interest in the new product.
- The findings reveal a considerable gap between theory and practice.
- She exerted considerable influence on the committee's final decision.
- The treaty is of considerable geopolitical significance for the region.
- His argument, while compelling, rests on a considerable number of unverified assumptions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CON-SIDER-ABLE → if you can SIT (sider) on it, it's ABLE to be considered big/important.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE / QUANTITY (a 'considerable' issue is metaphorically a large one).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'рассматриваемый' (which means 'under consideration'). The correct conceptual equivalent is 'значительный', 'ощутимый', or 'немалый'.
Common Mistakes
- Using with singular countable nouns without 'a' (e.g., 'considerable problem' is correct, but 'considerable car' is odd). Overuse in informal speech where 'a lot of' or 'much' might be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical collocation with 'considerable'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but typically with plural countable nouns (e.g., 'a considerable number of books') or abstract singulars (e.g., 'considerable difficulty'). It sounds odd with concrete singular countables ('a considerable chair').
They are often synonyms. 'Considerable' often emphasizes size/amount, while 'significant' can more strongly imply importance or meaning. 'Significant' is also used in statistical contexts.
It is neutral to formal. It's common in writing and formal speech. In very casual conversation, people might use 'a lot of', 'much', or 'big' instead.
Yes, it is commonly used to modify comparative adjectives or past participles (e.g., 'considerably higher', 'considerably improved').
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