consolidate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine.
They consolidated their three companies.
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to discard the unused or unwanted items of and organize the remaining.
She consolidated her home library.
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to make solid or firm; solidify; strengthen.
to consolidate gains.
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Military. to strengthen by rearranging the position of ground combat troops after a successful attack.
verb (used without object)
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to unite or combine.
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to become solid or firm.
adjective
verb
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to form or cause to form into a solid mass or whole; unite or be united
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to make or become stronger or more stable
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military to strengthen or improve one's control over (a situation, force, newly captured area, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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consolidatesimple
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consolidatessimple
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have consolidatedperfect
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has consolidatedperfect
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am consolidatingprogressive
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are consolidatingprogressive
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is consolidatingprogressive
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have been consolidatingperfect progressive
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has been consolidatingperfect progressive
Past
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consolidatedsimple
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had consolidatedperfect
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was consolidatingprogressive
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were consolidatingprogressive
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had been consolidatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of consolidate
First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin consolidātus “made solid,” past participle of consolidāre “to make solid,” equivalent to con- + solid + -ate 1
Explanation
Consolidate means to bring together. If you consolidate student loans, you put them all together into one big loan. If you consolidate your childhood toys, you grab them all up and put them in one place. Preferably a toy box. Consolidate comes from the Latin roots com- ("together") and solidare ("to make solid"). So, consolidate is to bring things together to make something solid, stronger, or easier to handle. A general might consolidate his troops, a librarian might consolidate his grammar books, and someone with credit-card debt might consolidate the debt from different cards onto one.
Vocabulary lists containing consolidate
Hamilton
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The Hunger Games
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100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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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.
See Examples For:
"This morning, we are very satisfied with the work done. We are going to consolidate the work that has been done," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
That gave him clear air and enabled the Dutchman to consolidate his race position in third place behind the McLarens, laying the foundations for Red Bull's late strategy call.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Nike shares fell after analysts called its decision to consolidate online sales in China by cutting off most third-party e-commerce vendors a strategic misstep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Discovery are “temporarily enjoined and restrained from closing or consummating the transaction or taking any steps, directly or indirectly, to integrate or consolidate their operations pursuant to the transaction.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
I obediently consolidate the supplies I want into my pack.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
When we are asleep, our brain consolidates the memories of the day, processes emotions, and solves problems that defied it in the waking hours.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
On the other, Ellison consolidates content production across multiple major networks.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
It plans to gradually take over another five floors as it consolidates employees from other offices downtown and in Santa Monica.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
The news comes as the media and entertainment universe consolidates, cutting both costs and staff amid a shift away from movie theaters and traditional television.
From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026
In astronomy this is true; but in all the other fields of scientific enquiry the word consolidates a conceptual revolution.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
If Fifa pushes the plan through, he will have consolidated his power for the long-term future and made investors wealthy along the way.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The yen consolidated against other G-10 and Asian currencies, but may be supported by a media report that the BOJ is open to a faster pace of rate hikes, analysts said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"There are many unstable and uncertain external factors, and the domestic contradiction of strong supply and weak demand is prominent. The foundation for the economy to improve still needs to be consolidated," it added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
If it’s the case that El-Sayed has already consolidated the progressive vote, and the undecideds are more moderate, risk-averse Democrats, it could be a very close contest.
From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2026
Jean and Blanca’s country walks consolidated their friendship.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
The third slot remains up for grabs, with neither Josh Tongue nor Saqib Mahmood consolidating their place in the side.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
In private equity, a roll-up has historically meant buying companies, consolidating them to achieve an economy of scale and then flipping the larger entity for profit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
After a period when the market was filled with dozens of delivery apps—fueled by the boom in home orders during the Covid-19 pandemic—the market is swiftly consolidating around a few big companies.
From Barron's ● May 26, 2026
Nexstar also was in the process of consolidating Tegna’s operations and top Tegna executives had cashed out.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
Someone—probably Madoc, possibly Balekin, maybe even one of the other minor kings or queens—could squat there like a spider, consolidating power.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
