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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

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

He says the series "carries the banner" for the console and gives people a "reason to be in the Xbox ecosystem" - something he says has been the company's mission since day one.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Von Hassel made national headlines in 2014 when he exposed a security flaw in his father’s Xbox gaming console at age 5.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 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

Legendary Japanese video game creator Hideo Kojima said Thursday he had partnered with Microsoft's Xbox for his next project after its development for the PlayStation console was cancelled by Sony.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

Maybe his anger and sadness were so great that he feared breaking down if he tried to console me.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Previous CEO Phil Spencer had begun to take the division in a new direction, releasing some of its most popular games on rival consoles for the first time.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 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

“Kids don’t know how to play old-school games because they’re on their consoles playing.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

For the first time in the history of gaming, consoles across the board have seen price hikes years after they came out.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Pedrito just cracks his knuckles and consoles her by saying that they can have another one real soon.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

“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

The defining image of Arsenal's Champions League final defeat was Gabriel standing with his head in his hands as he was consoled by Paris St-Germain captain and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos.

From BBC ● May 30, 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

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

“You won’t have to, sugah. We’re staying in Ravenel next year,” Lillian consoled.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

“It’s difficult to maintain hope amid so much tragedy,” said a nun from Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity congregation, who was consoling survivors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 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

He walked off with the consoling arm of Shane Lowry’s daughter Iris - who also went close to hitting the putting surface - round his shoulders.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

Chomsky, now 97, was hardly the only famous associate who was privately consoling Epstein or giving him advice to rehabilitate his public image.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

The driver talked in a muted, consoling tone as he drove.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• assuage
• soothe