overvejelse

Overvejelse is a Danish noun meaning the act of thinking about something carefully, i.e., consideration, deliberation, or reflection before making a decision. The term derives from the verb overveje, formed from over- (thoroughly, excessively) and veje (to weigh), literally "to weigh over."

In everyday language, overvejelse denotes the mental process of weighing options and potential consequences. In formal or legal contexts it can refer to giving proper consideration to a matter before acting, as in phrases like "den nødvendige overvejelse."

Philosophically and psychologically, overvejelse is closely related to deliberation, the deliberate, effortful form of thinking aimed at reaching a judgment. It contrasts with intuitive or spontaneous thought. Research on decision making often distinguishes deliberation-based processes from heuristic or automatic responses, and considers how time constraints, cognitive load, and biases influence overvejelse.

Cognates in related languages include Norwegian overveielse and Swedish övervägelse, reflecting the shared Germanic roots of the concept.

See also: consideration, deliberation, reflection.