consume
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to undergo destruction; waste away.
-
to use or use up consumer goods.
verb
-
(tr) to eat or drink
-
(tr; often passive) to engross or obsess
-
(tr) to use up; expend
my car consumes little oil
-
to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc
fire consumed the forest
-
(tr) to waste or squander
the time consumed on that project was excessive
-
(passive) to waste away
Other Word Forms
- consuming adjective
- consumingly adverb
- half-consumed adjective
- overconsume verb
- preconsume verb (used with object)
- unconsumed adjective
- underconsume verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of consume
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French consumer, from Latin consūmere, from con- con- + sūmere “to take up” (equivalent to subs-, variant of sub- sub- + emere “to take, buy”; emptor ( def. ) )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a recent year before the heat pump installation, the house consumed a total of 28,000 kWh, which would mostly have been gas heating.
From BBC
When it comes to art, the phrase “consume” stands in too often for “engage with” or “consider.”
From Salon
Since lambari fish are widely consumed in the region, this raises concerns about possible exposure to antibiotics through food.
From Science Daily
And Americans consume less gasoline than back then while producing 42% more goods and services.
It notes some 2.7 billion liters of diesel are consumed in the country each month.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
