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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, game(s) console, 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

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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

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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

Powered by Nintendo's Switch 2 console, the remake features far richer environments, upgraded textures and more detailed character models.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

But new Xbox boss Asha Sharma, who took over the job in June, announced Gears of War would remain a "console exclusive", although a PC version has also been released.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Sharma was promoted to CEO of Xbox—a sprawling business that includes its namesake console and big titles like “Call of Duty”— this past February following the exit of gaming industry legend Phil Spencer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

The 1959 image features his father, a shoe repairman, in a wooden chair reading the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión, while his side profile casts a shadow on a vintage console to his side.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Such was my sentence, and on that night would the dæmon employ every art to destroy me and tear me from the glimpse of happiness which promised partly to console my sufferings.

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

Rockstar said players who pre-order will be able to begin pre-loading it on their consoles on 12 November to ensure they are able to play at launch.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Those high import prices are in turn putting upward pressure on the costs of some consumer goods, such as iPhones and gaming consoles, and contributing to inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Creators will then be able to distribute their games as standalone apps on mobile, PC, and consoles; an offline mode is also planned.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

Currently, digital games can be downloaded online and played across Xbox consoles or PCs.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

In Paris, Theo consoles himself with a new girlfriend, someone he'd met a few months earlier, “S.”

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

“It has been subject to increasingly aggressive change. When I was younger, it was sad for me to witness. I was consoled because Vlore was not the center, but then they started attacking here too.”

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

Some have apologized for the affront and consoled customers, helping them move through the stages of grief to acceptance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

She was consoled by campmates including ex-Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

"What a horrible night for the young keeper. The Atleti fans actually gave him sympathetic applause but not sure how he can be consoled after that."

From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026

In nearly four years as First Lady, I had consoled often.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

It finds the singer consoling a friend who has just been through a break-up.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

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

Viewers have been circulating clips of Wilson reaching for Batula’s hands in one scene and consoling her in the bathroom as she cried in another.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

I’m a big Fantasy Football person, so Monday morning is normally consoling myself with how badly Sunday has gone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

She got to be so sincere in the deception that she ended up by consoling herself with her own lies.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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Related Words

• assuage
• soothe

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