consult

[kuhn-suhlt, kon-suhlt, kuhn-suhlt]

verb (used with object)

1. to seek advice or information from; ask guidance from.

   Consult your lawyer before signing the contract.

2. to refer to for information.

   Consult your dictionary for the spelling of the word.

3. to have regard for (a person's interest, convenience, etc.) in making plans.

4. Obsolete.,  to meditate, plan, or contrive.

verb (used without object)

1. to consider or deliberate; take counsel; confer (usually followed bywith ).

   He consulted with his doctor.

2. to give professional or expert advice; serve as consultant.

noun

1. a consultation.

2. Archaic.,  a secret meeting, especially one for seditious purposes.

consult

/ kənˈsʌlt /

verb

1. to ask advice from (someone); confer with (someone)

2. (tr) to refer to for information

   to consult a map

3. (tr) to have regard for (a person's feelings, interests, etc) in making decisions or plans; consider

4. (intr) to make oneself available to give professional advice, esp at scheduled times and for a fee

Other Word Forms

• preconsult verb
• reconsult verb
• unconsulted adjective
• consulter noun
• consultable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consult¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French consulter, from Latin consultāre “to deliberate,” literally, “to advise repeatedly,” from consulere “to advise, consider, seek advice from”; consul

Word History and Origins

Origin of consult¹

C17: from French consulter, from Latin consultāre to reflect, take counsel, from consulere to consult

Synonym Study

Consult, confer imply talking over a situation or a subject with someone to decide points in doubt. To consult is to seek from a presumably qualified person or source advice, opinion, etc.: to consult an authority. To confer is to exchange views: The partners conferred concerning their business.

Example Sentences

On Monday, Anthropic said it landed its biggest enterprise deal yet—a partnership with Deloitte to make its models available to over 470,000 of the accounting and consulting giant’s global employees.

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The shutdown could cut annual economic growth by as much as 0.2 percentage point for every week it lasts, the consulting firm Oxford Economics estimates.

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The Namibian Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy said it was consulting the Nama and other affected communities.

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“Suspending the pension reform would be a humiliating concession for Macron,” said Mujtaba Rahman, head of Europe for risk consulting firm Eurasia.

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Also, for service sectors that require a lot of expertise, whether consulting, banking, and maybe even some accounting and auditing-type services, skilled workers are important.

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Related Words

• argue 
• brainstorm 
• call in 
• consider 
• deliberate 
• discuss 
• examine 
• huddle 
• interview 
• negotiate 
• respect 
• review 
• turn to