consist

[ verb kuhn-sist; noun kon-sist ]

/ verb kənˈsɪst; noun ˈkɒn sɪst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: consist / consisted / consisting / consists on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to be made up or composed (usually followed by of): This cake consists mainly of sugar, flour, and butter.

to be comprised or contained (usually followed by in): Her charm does not consist only in her beauty.

Archaic. to exist together or be capable of existing together.

Obsolete. to insist; urge.

noun

Railroads.

the rolling stock, exclusive of the locomotive, making up a train.
a record made of this rolling stock.

QUIZ

CUDDLE UP! A COZY QUIZ ON FALL WORDS HAS ARRIVED

If autumn is your ideal season, spice up your repertoire of "fall" vocabulary with this quiz on some warm and vivid descriptive words for the season.

Question 1 of 10

Which of the following words means “to make a crackling sound; crackle”?

crisp

crepitate

fuscous

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of consist

1520–30; <Latin consistere to stand together, stand firm, equivalent to con-con- + sistere to cause to stand, reduplicative v. akin to stāre to stand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use consist in a sentence

Currently, an election “committee” consisting of 1,200 Hongkongers votes for the chief executive.
Occupy Hong Kong Hangs On|Lennox Samuels|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prior to the Syrian civil war, the country had a substantial air defense network—mostly consisting of older Soviet-built systems.
First U.S. Stealth Jet Attack on Syria Cost More Than Indian Mission to Mars|Dave Majumdar|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Future Islands, now a trio consisting of Herring, Welmers, and Cashion, reconciled.
Future Islands Frontman Samuel T. Herring on Their 11-Year Journey to Letterman and Viral Stardom|Marlow Stern|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Taipei, Taiwan, a Bach flash mob consisting of cellists and tuba players took over a train.
Can Bach Make It on NYC’s Subways?|Tom Teodorczuk|March 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Those assets—consisting of stocks, bonds and other personal financial holdings—were pretty easy to find.
Mapped: Where Russia Stashes Its Cash|CNBC|March 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Tiefurt we partook of a magnificent collation consisting of a mug of beer, brown bread and sausage!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
An appeal lies from its decision to the court of appeals consisting of three judges.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The Great organ, consisting of the front pipes and other loud-speaking stops.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
Its most important compound is water, of which it forms one-ninth, the other eight-ninths consisting of oxygen.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
The scenery was of the usual description, consisting of narrow, circumscribed valleys and mountains covered with endless forests.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer

British Dictionary definitions for consist

consist

/ (kənˈsɪst) /

verb (intr)

(foll by of) to be composed (of); be formed (of)syrup consists of sugar and water

(foll by in or of) to have its existence (in); lie (in); be expressed (by)his religion consists only in going to church

to be compatible or consistent; accord

Word Origin for consist

C16: from Latin consistere to halt, stand firm, from sistere to stand, cause to stand; related to stāre to stand

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

consist

Origin of consist

Words related to consist

How to use consist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for consist

Word Origin for consist