Consider vs Think about this

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Consider

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Think about this

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Consider

	Consider	Think about this
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə// 🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər//	🇬🇧 //θɪŋk əˈbaʊt ðɪs// 🇺🇸 //θɪŋk əˈbaʊt ðɪs//
Meaning	To think about something carefully.	consider this idea or topic
Example	I will consider your suggestion.	Before making a decision, you should really *think about this* carefully.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility	think about life, think about the future, think about your choices
Antonyms	ignore, dismiss, overlook	ignore this, disregard this
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.	Omitting 'about' and saying just 'think this', Confusing with 'think of' which implies a quicker, less deep consideration., Using it in commands without softening with 'please' or 'let's'.
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 when encouraging someone to consider something. It's appropriate in both casual and professional settings, but avoid in very formal contexts.

See it in real clips

From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

Consider this your first and last warning.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

You consider yourself lucky, I'm only busting you to private.

From here on in, you can consider my ass retired.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

Consider this your first and last warning.

Consider

The Sopranos › S1 E1

You should really think about it. This room was renovated last year.

Think about this

Frequently asked questions: Consider vs Think about this

What's the difference between Consider and Think about this?

Consider: To think about something carefully. Think about this: consider this idea or topic

Which is more common: Consider and Think about this?

Consider is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Consider: I will consider your suggestion. Think about this: Before making a decision, you should really *think about this* carefully.

Can I use Consider and Think about this interchangeably?

Not always. Consider and Think about this 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.