consumption

American  

[kuhn-suhmp-shuhn] / kənˈsʌmp ʃən /

noun

• consumptions
  plural

1. the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.

   Synonyms:

   utilization, exploitation, depletion

2. the amount consumed.

   the high consumption of gasoline.

3. Economics. the using up of goods and services having an exchangeable value.

4. Pathology.

   1. Older Use. tuberculosis of the lungs.

   2. progressive wasting of the body.

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consumption British  

/ kənˈsʌmpʃən /

noun

1. the act of consuming or the state of being consumed, esp by eating, burning, etc

2. economics expenditure on goods and services for final personal use

3. the quantity consumed

4. pathol a condition characterized by a wasting away of the tissues of the body, esp as seen in tuberculosis of the lungs

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsumption
  noun
• overconsumption
  noun
• preconsumption
  noun
• self-consumption
  noun
• underconsumption
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consumptions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of consumption

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consumpcyon, from Middle French, from Latin consūmptiōn-, stem of consūmptiō “employment, use, waste,” from consūmpt(us) “used up” (past participle of consūmere “to use up, waste”; see consume) + -iō -ion

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Explanation

Consumption means using, buying or eating something. If we don't reduce our energy consumption, we will run out of fuel. Conspicuous consumption is buying something to show off. Consumption is related to the verb consume, which means to eat, use, or buy. You will often read about consumption in terms of rate––how fast we are using up a particular resource. If you consume ten cookies in an hour, your rate of consumption is ten cookies an hour. Sustainable? Let's hope not.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consumption consumptions

Domestic consumption has also shown signs of improvement, adding to concerns that stronger demand could fuel broader price increases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The majority of Anthropic’s revenue came from consumption of tokens, or the data processed by AI models to carry out tasks, while a smaller fraction came from subscription deals with customers.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

The world market for diesel is about 1.4 billion tonnes a year, meaning that the Russian deal would cover about 30 hours of global consumption.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Although more research is needed to determine whether tea consumption directly influences disease risk, the study offers encouraging evidence that this widely consumed beverage is associated with cardiovascular health.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

That way, the oxygenator's power consumption doesn't eat up my driving juice.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Cutting meat consumptions — particularly red meat, particularly in high-income countries — represents an opportunity to lower methane emissions.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2024

Because of Covid-19 and the sanctions, this trade was stopped - and his relatives had to sell for domestic consumptions for a much lower return, making it "hard to survive".

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2024

Religious celebrations — what with sacred slaughters, a stress on all things kosher, ritualized consumptions — are a particular point of tension for Jews who eat vegan.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2021

Each individual has to pay for their own consumptions choices.

From Forbes ● Apr. 5, 2015

They give an infusion of it in colds, coughs, asthmas, and consumptions.

From Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 3 by James Athearn Jones

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Related Words

• drinking
• expenditure
• utilization

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