consume

[ kuhn-soom ]

/ kənˈsum /

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See synonyms for: consume / consumed / consuming on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

to destroy or expend by use; use up.

to eat or drink up; devour.

to destroy, as by decomposition or burning: Fire consumed the forest.

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

to absorb; engross: consumed with curiosity.

verb (used without object), con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

to undergo destruction; waste away.

to use or use up consumer goods.

OTHER WORDS FOR consume

1 exhaust, deplete.

4 squander, dissipate.

See synonyms for consume on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of consume

1350–1400; Middle English (<Middle French consumer) <Latin consūmere, equivalent to con-con- + sūmere to take up (perhaps <*suzm-<*subzm-<*subs-(e)m-, equivalent to subs-, variant of sub-sub- + emere to take, buy)

OTHER WORDS FROM consume

half-con·sumed, adjectiveo·ver·con·sume, verb, o·ver·con·sumed, o·ver·con·sum·ing.pre·con·sume, verb (used with object), pre·con·sumed, pre·con·sum·ing.un·con·sumed, adjective

un·der·con·sume, verb (used with object), un·der·con·sumed, un·der·con·sum·ing.

Words nearby consume

consultative, consulting, consulting room, consultor, consumable, consume, consumedly, consumer, consumer credit, consumer durable, consumer goods

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use consume in a sentence

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.
MyPillow boycott: How a product can spark an identity crisis|Elizabeth Chang|February 12, 2021|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.
Masks should fit better or be doubled up to protect against coronavirus variants, CDC says|Lena H. Sun, Fenit Nirappil|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Newsletters support the Times’ subscription-driven business by getting readers into the habit of consuming its content everyday via The Morning.
The New York Times aims to convert newsletter readers into paid subscribers as The Morning newsletter tops 1 billion opens|Sara Guaglione|February 10, 2021|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.
Splitting the atom: Decoupling audience from inventory unleashes power of pubs|Trevor Grigoruk|February 9, 2021|Digiday

If the cost of consuming water wasn’t high enough in San Diego, consider the cost of getting rid of it.
Environment Report: The High Cost of Getting Rid of Water|MacKenzie Elmer|February 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The French still consume more than half of the Champagne produced.
Champagne: You’re Drinking It All Wrong|Kayleigh Kulp|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And as technology adapts to reflect the ways we consume media, so too is the family adapting to technology.
Binge Watching is the New Bonding Time|The Daily Beast|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is just the way we consume TV now: our favorite shows, whenever we want them, wherever we want them.
New Innovations Let You Watch TV Anywhere You Go||December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And new innovations continue to make wireless, on-demand viewing the new way our families consume TV.
New Innovations Let You Watch TV Anywhere You Go||December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You consume a nutritionally unbalanced diet because of concerns about “food purity.”
Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession|DailyBurn|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Aristide stood gossiping until the Mayor invited him to take a place at the table and consume liquid refreshment.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
She thought the idol would consume them, for bachelor cooking was never intended for bachelor invalids.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doth as it is commanded.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
I said therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for consume

consume

/ (kənˈsjuːm) /

verb

(tr) to eat or drink

(tr; often passive) to engross or obsess

(tr) to use up; expendmy car consumes little oil

to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etcfire consumed the forest

(tr) to waste or squanderthe time consumed on that project was excessive

(passive) to waste away

Derived forms of consume

consuming, adjectiveconsumingly, adverb

Word Origin for consume

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

consume

OTHER WORDS FOR consume

Origin of consume

OTHER WORDS FROM consume

Words nearby consume

Words related to consume

How to use consume in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for consume

Derived forms of consume

Word Origin for consume