console

¹ American  

[kuhn-sohl] / kənˈsoʊl /

verb (used with object)

consoles, present (3rd person singular) consoled, past participle, past consoling present participle

1. to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort.

   Even his children could not console him when his wife died.

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console ² American  

[kon-sohl] / ˈkɒn soʊl /

noun

consoles plural

1. Also called video game console.  Also called game(s) console,.  Also called gaming console,.  a computer system specially made for playing video games by connecting it to a television or other display for video and sound.

2. the control or monitoring unit of a computer, containing the keyboard or keys, switches, etc.

3. a television, phonograph, or radio cabinet designed to stand on the floor rather than on a table or shelf.

4. a desklike structure containing the keyboards, pedals, etc., by means of which an organ is played.

5. a small cabinet standing on the floor and having doors.

6. console table.

7. the control unit of a mechanical, electrical, or electronic system.

   the console that controls a theater's lighting system.

8. Architecture. an ornamental corbel or bracket, especially one high in relation to its projection.

9. Automotive. a tray or container typically divided into compartments, mounted between bucket seats, and used for storing small items.

10. Nautical. a unit on a vessel containing steering apparatus, systems monitoring equipment, etc..

    a bridge console, an engine-room console.

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console ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒnsəʊl /

noun

1. an ornamental bracket, esp one used to support a wall fixture, bust, etc

2. the part of an organ comprising the manuals, pedals, stops, etc

3. a unit on which the controls of an electronic system are mounted

4. same as games console

5. a cabinet for a television, gramophone, etc, designed to stand on the floor

6. See console table

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console ² British  

/ kənˈsəʊl /

verb

1. to serve as a source of comfort to (someone) in disappointment, loss, sadness, etc

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Synonym Usage

See comfort.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• consoler
  noun
• consolable
  adjective
• inconsolable
  adjective
• unconsolable
  adjective
• unconsoled
  adjective
• consolingly
  adverb
• unconsolably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consoles
  plural

Participles

• consoling
  present
• consoled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• console
  simple
• consoles
  simple
• have consoled
  perfect
• has consoled
  perfect
• am consoling
  progressive
• are consoling
  progressive
• is consoling
  progressive
• have been consoling
  perfect progressive
• has been consoling
  perfect progressive

Past

• consoled
  simple
• had consoled
  perfect
• was consoling
  progressive
• were consoling
  progressive
• had been consoling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will console
  simple
• will have consoled
  perfect
• will be consoling
  progressive
• will have been consoling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of console¹

First recorded in 1685–95; either from French consoler or directly from Latin consōlārī, equivalent to con- con- + sōlārī “to soothe” ( see solace); perhaps akin to Old English sǣl “happiness” ( see seely)

Origin of console²

First recorded in 1700–10; from French; Middle French consolle “bracket, support,” apparently shortening of consolateur (attested in Middle French with same sense), literally, “one who consoles” (from Late Latin consōlātor; see console ¹ , -ator ), perhaps because such supports served as rests in choir stalls, etc.; cf. misericord

Explanation

Perhaps you avoid babysitting your baby brother because you're worried that if he starts to cry, you won’t be able to console him or make him feel better. Or maybe you just hate changing diapers. You usually try to console someone by providing encouragement and offering solace. Others try to console themselves with tubs of ice cream. From the Latin word consolari, meaning “to comfort,” the noun console can also describe a central control panel. In an automobile, the controls for both the radio and air-conditioning are in the same center console.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

console consoles consoled consoling

Microsoft said in June it had "hoped another price increase would not be necessary", but blamed the rising cost of console storage and memory for needing to raise prices on consumers.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Afterward, his father didn’t console him with platitudes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

He also said Trump had reached out to console him after the death of his younger brother Nick Starmer.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Last week, Sony announced it would stop manufacturing discs for all new PlayStation games released after January 2028, making its branded digital storefront the default retail outpost for all console owners going forward.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

It was a whole day’s travel and they arrived exhausted, the parents trying to console their children despite the dread in their own hearts.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

The centre's shops sell tech equipment of all sorts, from computer parts to gadgets and games consoles.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

Amazon's head of gaming Jeff Gattis has told the BBC he believes the rising cost of tech means people will turn to streaming games online rather than buying new consoles.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

If he had amassed the same number of records, skateboard decks or vintage gaming consoles — all fire hazards — would he have gotten the same eviction warning?

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

"For the first time in the industry's history, consoles are getting more expensive toward the end of their lifecycle," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

I squeeze her shoulder in the hope that it consoles her.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Modric, who was making his 23rd World Cup appearance, was consoled by Ronaldo, his former Real Madrid team-mate, after the final whistle.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

They actively consoled him, cast him as a victim and in some cases offered advice on how to rehabilitate his image.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

“You have to be strong,” he consoled his mother.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

June Lockhart, the perennial TV mom who consoled her son Timmy and his faithful pet collie in ‘Lassie’ and explained the galaxy to her children in ‘Lost in Space,’ has died.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025

It was Mala who consoled me when, reading the Globe one evening, I came across Mrs. Croft's obituary.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Days after Kirk’s death, Marx posted photos of himself consoling Kirk’s widow, Erika; he announced he was considering a run for governor at a memorial service for Kirk.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

Career coach Gina Riley has been impersonated several times and sometimes finds herself consoling people who falsely believed she contacted them with a golden opportunity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

“I can tell you there is no consoling that family at this point,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

He claimed that he began consoling a crying Minaj, only for her to start yelling at him.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 1, 2025

This assurance was very consoling to Marie- quita.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Related Words

• assuage
• soothe