consume

American  

[kuhn-soom] / kənˈsum /

verb (used with object)

consumes, present (3rd person singular) consumed, past participle, past consuming present participle

1. to destroy or expend by use; use up.

   Synonyms:

   deplete, exhaust

2. to eat or drink up; devour.

3. to destroy, as by decomposition or burning.

   Fire consumed the forest.

4. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

   Synonyms:

   dissipate, squander

5. to absorb; engross.

   consumed with curiosity.

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verb (used without object)

consumes, present (3rd person singular) consumed, past participle, past consuming present participle

1. to undergo destruction; waste away.

2. to use or use up consumer goods.

consume British  

/ kənˈsjuːm /

verb

1. (tr) to eat or drink

2. (tr; often passive) to engross or obsess

3. (tr) to use up; expend

   my car consumes little oil

4. to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc

   fire consumed the forest

5. (tr) to waste or squander

   the time consumed on that project was excessive

6. (passive) to waste away

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has consumed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have consumed
  perfect
• have been consuming
  perfect progressive
• is consuming
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are consuming
  progressive
• am consuming
  progressive 1st person singular
• consuming
  participle
• has been consuming
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• consumes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had consumed
  perfect
• had been consuming
  perfect progressive
• were consuming
  progressive plural
• was consuming
  progressive singular
• consumed
  simple
• consumed
  participle

Future

• will consume
  simple
• will have consumed
  perfect
• will be consuming
  progressive
• will have been consuming
  perfect progressive

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”; cf. emptor ( def. ))

Explanation

"The Freshman 15" describes freshman-year college students who gain about fifteen pounds because they consume way too much lousy dorm food all day long. To consume a cake is to eat it, the idea being that you ate the whole thing. To say a fire consumed a building is to say that the entire building was destroyed. Consume means to devour, to take in, to use up. The Unites States is often referred to as a consumer society because our economy is based on things being consumed. Whether it's gas, clothes, burgers, music, or anything that we use up as we purchase it, it's something that we consume. If we consume all the oil, there will be none left to burn.

Example Sentences

Today’s graduates face education costs that consume years of earnings while carrying debt their grandparents never imagined.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Run-A-Muck is premised on the idea that consumers who enjoy a story, world or other type of intellectual property will consume as much of it as possible in whatever form they can.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

STV argued the way people consume news is changing.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

B12 from a normal diet containing meat, fish, eggs, dairy or fortified foods is not usually the issue: it is very difficult to consume too much B12 from food alone.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Here, I will tilt my head back, let it pour into my mouth, and consume it.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• absorb
• deplete
• devour
• dominate
• drain
• eat up
• employ
• exhaust
• expend
• obsess
• preoccupy
• spend
• waste