to weigh up
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to weigh up
To carefully examine different possibilities, reasons, or interests and compare them with one another in order to make a decision.
Vor dem Kauf müssen wir die Vor- und Nachteile genau abwägen.
Before buying it, we need to weigh up the pros and cons carefully.
'Abwägen' (to weigh up) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich wäge die Risiken sorgfältig ab.
I weigh up the risks carefully.
The word comes from 'wägen', an old form of 'wiegen' (to weigh). So 'abwägen' (to weigh up) figuratively means to compare arguments or options as if on a scale in order to determine their 'weight'.
Man muss die Interessen aller Beteiligten gegeneinander abwägen.
You have to weigh up the interests of everyone involved against each other.
'Abwägen' (to weigh up) is very often used with pairs such as 'Vor- und Nachteile' (advantages and disadvantages), 'Chancen und Risiken' (opportunities and risks), or 'Pro und Kontra' (pros and cons). You can also weigh up individual things like 'Argumente' (arguments), 'Möglichkeiten' (possibilities), or 'Interessen' (interests).
Wir müssen die Chancen und Risiken des Projekts sorgfältig abwägen.
We need to weigh up the opportunities and risks of the project carefully.
to consider
„Überlegen“ and „abwägen“ can both express thinking before making a decision. „Überlegen“ is more general, whereas „abwägen“ explicitly emphasizes comparing different possibilities, reasons, or interests. Use „überlegen“ for ordinary thinking, and „abwägen“ when several sides are being carefully compared with one another.
Vor der Entscheidung wog sie die Vorteile und Nachteile beider Angebote ab.
Before making the decision, she weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of both offers.
Ich überlege, ob ich heute Abend zu Hause bleibe.
I'm considering whether to stay home tonight.
