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.
"As the older audience that traditionally consumes trot gradually declines, these artists need to connect with younger and middle-aged listeners," he says.
From BBC
China, which typically consumes about 14 million tons of copper a year, has been buying 1 million to 2 million tons more than its economy needs, according to Tom Price, commodity analyst at Panmure Liberum.
The housing crisis consumed much of your time as CEO.
But getting a charter and building up a bank can be time consuming.
He said claims of poor drinking water at Dilley are “patently false” because detainees and staff consume the same water as the community.
From Salon
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.
