consume

[ kuhn-soom ]

verb (used with object)

, con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

1. to destroy or expend by use; use up.

   Synonyms: deplete, exhaust

2. to eat or drink up; devour.
3. to destroy, as by decomposition or burning:

   Fire consumed the forest.

4. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

   Synonyms: dissipate, squander

5. to absorb; engross:

   consumed with curiosity.

verb (used without object)

, con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

1. to undergo destruction; waste away.
2. to use or use up consumer goods.

consume

/ kənˈsjuːm /

verb

1. tr to eat or drink
2. tr; often passive to engross or obsess
3. tr to use up; expend

   my car consumes little oil

4. to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc

   fire consumed the forest

5. tr to waste or squander

   the time consumed on that project was excessive

6. passive to waste away

Derived Forms

• conˈsuming, adjective
• conˈsumingly, adverb

Other Words From

• half-con·sumed adjective
• over·con·sume verb overconsumed overconsuming
• precon·sume verb (used with object) preconsumed preconsuming
• uncon·sumed adjective
• under·con·sume verb (used with object) underconsumed underconsuming

Word History and Origins

Origin of consume¹

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 ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of consume¹

C14: from Latin consūmere to devour, from com- (intensive) + sūmere to take up, from emere to take, purchase

Example Sentences

When it comes to beloved products, we are “very good at rationalizing in order to reduce this discomfort while still consuming the product we want to consume,” John said.

From Washington Post

He said he is not a proponent of double masking because it consumes more masks and can also lead to more air leakage.

From Washington Post

Newsletters support the Times’ subscription-driven business by getting readers into the habit of consuming its content everyday via The Morning.

From Digiday

Intent-signaling behaviors — observable as users search, click, consume and repeat — are the lifeblood of the digital advertising ecosystem and something publishers must honor.

From Digiday

If the cost of consuming water wasn’t high enough in San Diego, consider the cost of getting rid of it.

From Voice of San Diego

The French still consume more than half of the Champagne produced.

From The Daily Beast

And as technology adapts to reflect the ways we consume media, so too is the family adapting to technology.

From The Daily Beast

This is just the way we consume TV now: our favorite shows, whenever we want them, wherever we want them.

From The Daily Beast

And new innovations continue to make wireless, on-demand viewing the new way our families consume TV.

From The Daily Beast

You consume a nutritionally unbalanced diet because of concerns about “food purity.”

From The Daily Beast

And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide stood gossiping until the Mayor invited him to take a place at the table and consume liquid refreshment.

From Project Gutenberg

She thought the idol would consume them, for bachelor cooking was never intended for bachelor invalids.

From Project Gutenberg

The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doth as it is commanded.

From Project Gutenberg

I said therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absorb
• deplete
• devour
• dominate
• drain
• eat up
• employ
• exhaust
• expend
• obsess
• preoccupy
• spend
• waste