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

Another woman began to console her, and a third woman raised her voice in anger.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

The Russian can console herself with the knowledge she has gained valuable experience against the world number one on the biggest court on the planet - and a bumper paycheck.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Carlos had a “heart of gold” and never missed the chance to console a friend or go out of his way to help, his mom said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

“I could dispense with most of them. . . . Perhaps that’s my failing, but I console myself that there are worse failings.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

He pointed at a low wooden console with several doors near the conference table.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

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

GTA 6, due to be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles in November, is still expected to be the biggest video game launch of the decade.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The Japanese company maintained its annual sales forecast of 16.5 million Switch 2 consoles, despite reporting a decline in quarterly sales to 3.82 million units due to a high base a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

Mitch said as alerts beeped and lights flashed across all the consoles.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

“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

"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

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

I am consoled, somewhat, by the thought that the green plants are in the same fix.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

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

"As far as I remember the defendant was upset and a lot of people were giving him hugs and consoling him."

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

“Harry—” said Hermione, stretching out a consoling hand, but he shrugged it off and walked away, his eyes on the fire Hermione had conjured.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• assuage
• soothe