Cool MateConsider vs Look down
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Look down
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Consider
| Consider | Look down | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 //lʊk daʊn//🇺🇸 //lʊk daʊn// |
| Meaning | To think about something carefully. | To feel superior to someone or something. |
| Example | I will consider your suggestion. | She tends to look down on people who don't share her interests. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | look down on, look down upon, look down at |
| Antonyms | ignore, dismiss, overlook | admire, respect, honor |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | 'Look down' used without 'on' in expressions., Confusing 'look down on' with 'look up to'., Incorrectly using 'look down at' instead of 'look down on'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Use 'look down on' to express a sense of superiority or disdain towards people or their actions. Avoid in respectful or formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consider vs Look down
What's the difference between Consider and Look down?
Consider: To think about something carefully. Look down: To feel superior to someone or something.
Which is more common: Consider and Look down?
Consider is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use Consider and Look down interchangeably?
Not always. Consider and Look down are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.