consume

American

[kuhn-soom] / kənˈsum /

verb (used with object)

consumed, consuming

to destroy or expend by use; use up.

Synonyms:

deplete, exhaust
to eat or drink up; devour.
to destroy, as by decomposition or burning.

Fire consumed the forest.
to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

Synonyms:

dissipate, squander
to absorb; engross.

consumed with curiosity.

verb (used without object)

consumed, consuming

to undergo destruction; waste away.
to use or use up consumer goods.

consume British

/ kənˈsjuːm /

verb

(tr) to eat or drink
(tr; often passive) to engross or obsess
(tr) to use up; expend

my car consumes little oil
to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc

fire consumed the forest
(tr) to waste or squander

the time consumed on that project was excessive
(passive) to waste away

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

consuming adjective
consumingly adverb
half-consumed adjective
overconsume verb
preconsume verb (used with object)
unconsumed adjective
underconsume verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of consume

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French consumer, from Latin consūmere, from con- con- + sūmere “to take up” (equivalent to subs-, variant of sub- sub- + emere “to take, buy”; emptor ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All five patients had recently consumed raw date palm sap, a sweet liquid commonly collected during winter and frequently visited by bats.

From Science Daily

At this stage investigators have not established a direct link between the symptoms and the milk consumed.

From Barron's

Sodium, which is found in salt, is commonly consumed through everyday foods.

From Science Daily

Turning a concept into a finished product is time consuming work that involves animation, simulation, lighting and integrating the effects in a sequence filmed with live actors.

From Barron's

That’s worrisome given the concerns around the AI bubble and circular spending that has consumed investors in recent months.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023