consume

American  

[kuhn-soom] / kənˈsum /

verb (used with object)

consumes, present (3rd person singular) consumed, past participle, past consuming present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

consumes, present (3rd person singular) consumed, past participle, past consuming present participle

1. to undergo destruction; waste away.

2. to use or use up consumer goods.

consume British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preconsume
  verb (used with object)
• half-consumed
  adjective
• consumingly
  adverb
• consuming
  adjective
• unconsumed
  adjective
• underconsume
  verb (used with object)
• overconsume
  verb

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have consumed
  perfect
• has consumed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am consuming
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been consuming
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been consuming
  perfect progressive
• is consuming
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are consuming
  progressive
• consuming
  participle
• consumes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had consumed
  perfect
• were consuming
  progressive plural
• was consuming
  progressive singular
• had been consuming
  perfect progressive
• consumed
  simple
• consumed
  participle

Future

• will consume
  simple
• will have consumed
  perfect
• will be consuming
  progressive
• will have been consuming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of consume

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”; cf. emptor ( def. ))

Explanation

"The Freshman 15" describes freshman-year college students who gain about fifteen pounds because they consume way too much lousy dorm food all day long. To consume a cake is to eat it, the idea being that you ate the whole thing. To say a fire consumed a building is to say that the entire building was destroyed. Consume means to devour, to take in, to use up. The Unites States is often referred to as a consumer society because our economy is based on things being consumed. Whether it's gas, clothes, burgers, music, or anything that we use up as we purchase it, it's something that we consume. If we consume all the oil, there will be none left to burn.

Example Sentences

Today’s graduates face education costs that consume years of earnings while carrying debt their grandparents never imagined.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Others were shallow and smooth, especially on front teeth, likely caused by acidic fruits that many primates consume in large amounts.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

How much water and electricity do they consume?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

"That hand you get dealt can consume you or you can walk through a door where you can use it as a powerful message to the world," he said.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

I saw mountains of potatoes—oceans—more potatoes than you would think the world’s population could consume in a hundred years.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

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