console

¹ American  

[kuhn-sohl] / kənˈsoʊl /

verb (used with object)

• consoles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• consoled,
  past participle,  past
• consoling
  present participle

1. to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort.

   Even his children could not console him when his wife died.

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console ² American  

[kon-sohl] / ˈkɒn soʊl /

noun

• consoles
  plural

1. Also called video game console.  Also called game(s) console,.  Also called gaming console,.  a computer system specially made for playing video games by connecting it to a television or other display for video and sound.

2. the control or monitoring unit of a computer, containing the keyboard or keys, switches, etc.

3. a television, phonograph, or radio cabinet designed to stand on the floor rather than on a table or shelf.

4. a desklike structure containing the keyboards, pedals, etc., by means of which an organ is played.

5. a small cabinet standing on the floor and having doors.

6. console table.

7. the control unit of a mechanical, electrical, or electronic system.

   the console that controls a theater's lighting system.

8. Architecture. an ornamental corbel or bracket, especially one high in relation to its projection.

9. Automotive. a tray or container typically divided into compartments, mounted between bucket seats, and used for storing small items.

10. Nautical. a unit on a vessel containing steering apparatus, systems monitoring equipment, etc..

    a bridge console, an engine-room console.

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console ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒnsəʊl /

noun

1. an ornamental bracket, esp one used to support a wall fixture, bust, etc

2. the part of an organ comprising the manuals, pedals, stops, etc

3. a unit on which the controls of an electronic system are mounted

4. same as games console

5. a cabinet for a television, gramophone, etc, designed to stand on the floor

6. See console table

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console ² British  

/ kənˈsəʊl /

verb

1. to serve as a source of comfort to (someone) in disappointment, loss, sadness, etc

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Synonym Usage

See comfort.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• consoler
  noun
• consolable
  adjective
• inconsolable
  adjective
• unconsolable
  adjective
• unconsoled
  adjective
• consolingly
  adverb
• unconsolably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consoles
  plural

Participles

• consoling
  present
• consoled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• console
  simple
• consoles
  simple
• have consoled
  perfect
• has consoled
  perfect
• am consoling
  progressive
• are consoling
  progressive
• is consoling
  progressive
• have been consoling
  perfect progressive
• has been consoling
  perfect progressive

Past

• consoled
  simple
• had consoled
  perfect
• was consoling
  progressive
• were consoling
  progressive
• had been consoling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will console
  simple
• will have consoled
  perfect
• will be consoling
  progressive
• will have been consoling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of console¹

First recorded in 1685–95; either from French consoler or directly from Latin consōlārī, equivalent to con- con- + sōlārī “to soothe” ( see solace); perhaps akin to Old English sǣl “happiness” ( see seely)

Origin of console²

First recorded in 1700–10; from French; Middle French consolle “bracket, support,” apparently shortening of consolateur (attested in Middle French with same sense), literally, “one who consoles” (from Late Latin consōlātor; see console ¹ , -ator ), perhaps because such supports served as rests in choir stalls, etc.; cf. misericord

Explanation

Perhaps you avoid babysitting your baby brother because you're worried that if he starts to cry, you won’t be able to console him or make him feel better. Or maybe you just hate changing diapers. You usually try to console someone by providing encouragement and offering solace. Others try to console themselves with tubs of ice cream. From the Latin word consolari, meaning “to comfort,” the noun console can also describe a central control panel. In an automobile, the controls for both the radio and air-conditioning are in the same center console.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

console consoles consoled consoling

Carlos had a “heart of gold” and never missed the chance to console a friend or go out of his way to help, his mom said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

The Japanese giant helped popularise console discs in the 1990s after launching its first PlayStation.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

The prevailing weirdness over physical controls is no doubt responsible for the dinky switch console in the center stack, with audio, climate controls and emergency flasher crowded together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Many will also want to get advice from their teachers and to celebrate with or console friends.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

It irritated her, but she was ashamed to confess it, and now and then she tried to console herself by buying something pretty, so that Sallie needn’t think she had to economize.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

GTA 6, due to be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles in November, is still expected to be the biggest video game launch of the decade.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The Japanese company maintained its annual sales forecast of 16.5 million Switch 2 consoles, despite reporting a decline in quarterly sales to 3.82 million units due to a high base a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Microsoft has increased the price of Xbox consoles worldwide, citing rising memory and storage chip costs.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

The centre's shops sell tech equipment of all sorts, from computer parts to gadgets and games consoles.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

A vintage RCA television stood in the center of the room, hooked up to a Betamax VCR, a LaserDisc player, and several vintage videogame consoles.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Some have apologized for the affront and consoled customers, helping them move through the stages of grief to acceptance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Cast members consoled him, including a kiss on the cheek from Mikey Day that sent Gosling into a spontaneous giggle attack.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2026

They actively consoled him, cast him as a victim and in some cases offered advice on how to rehabilitate his image.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

He broke down in tears and was consoled by Hamilton's father Anthony on his walk back to the Racing Bulls garage.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025

“Pants can be mended, never you fear,” she consoled, when he showed her the damage.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Days after Kirk’s death, Marx posted photos of himself consoling Kirk’s widow, Erika; he announced he was considering a run for governor at a memorial service for Kirk.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

“I can tell you there is no consoling that family at this point,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

He walked off with the consoling arm of Shane Lowry’s daughter Iris - who also went close to hitting the putting surface - round his shoulders.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

I’m a big Fantasy Football person, so Monday morning is normally consoling myself with how badly Sunday has gone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

Conflicted, he asked, “But what about this code? What about—” “Tommy,” Newt said in a consoling voice.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner

Related Words

• assuage
• soothe