consult
Americanverb (used with object)
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consults,
present (3rd person singular)
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consulted,
past participle, past
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consulting
present participle
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to seek advice or information from; ask guidance from.
Consult your lawyer before signing the contract.
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to refer to for information.
Consult your dictionary for the spelling of the word.
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to have regard for (a person's interest, convenience, etc.) in making plans.
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Obsolete. to meditate, plan, or contrive.
verb (used without object)
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consults,
present (3rd person singular)
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consulted,
past participle, past
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consulting
present participle
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to consider or deliberate; take counsel; confer (usually followed bywith ).
He consulted with his doctor.
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to give professional or expert advice; serve as consultant.
noun
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a consultation.
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Archaic. a secret meeting, especially one for seditious purposes.
verb
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to ask advice from (someone); confer with (someone)
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(tr) to refer to for information
to consult a map
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(tr) to have regard for (a person's feelings, interests, etc) in making decisions or plans; consider
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(intr) to make oneself available to give professional advice, esp at scheduled times and for a fee
Synonym Usage
Consult, confer imply talking over a situation or a subject with someone to decide points in doubt. To consult is to seek from a presumably qualified person or source advice, opinion, etc.: to consult an authority. To confer is to exchange views: The partners conferred concerning their business.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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consultsimple
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consultssimple
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have consultedperfect
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has consultedperfect
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am consultingprogressive
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are consultingprogressive
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is consultingprogressive
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have been consultingperfect progressive
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has been consultingperfect progressive
Past
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consultedsimple
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had consultedperfect
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was consultingprogressive
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were consultingprogressive
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had been consultingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of consult
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French consulter, from Latin consultāre “to deliberate,” literally, “to advise repeatedly,” from consulere “to advise, consider, seek advice from”; cf. consul
Explanation
To consult is to give or get help or advice. When you don't know the meaning of a word, you consult a dictionary. That's why you're here, right? People making a big decision will usually consult their family and friends. To consult can also mean a type of professional advice: a consultant is a freelance worker paid to help a business out with something. Consulting is a complicated word that can mean to give or receive advice. When in doubt, find someone you trust to consult.
Vocabulary lists containing consult
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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:
Now there’s even a new online “jock tax” calculator they can consult.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
At one stage Root left the field for an opportunity to consult with the England backroom staff, although it did little to alter the course of the evening.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Please consult your tax and legal professionals regarding your specific situation.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
If you want predictions, ask a mystic or consult your Magic 8 Ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
“Next up is Cadet Fitz,” said Treebaun, not needing to consult his tablet for my particular simulation since he’d watched it in person.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Asked about the meeting, a State Department spokesperson said the agency regularly consults with a range of outside voices, and that officials’ engagement with a person or group doesn’t constitute an endorsement of views.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Arne Olson, a senior partner with Energy and Environmental Economics who consults on California’s energy planning, said replacing the plant with clean energy may have looked “eminently doable in 2016,” and is probably feasible today.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The 67-year-old breast cancer survivor, who consults on sustainable textiles and runs a small farmers market, would never have her own property sprayed with pesticides, but admits to having envied neighbors who did.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
In addition to joining local fire safety advisory boards, Cantey reached out to a mining company she consults for, which specialises in underground refuge chambers.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
He fixes me with a quizzical stare and then consults his two smaller companions.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
We’re hoping that the public, which was never consulted on whether it wanted to reorganize life this way, is at least dragging politicians somewhat in our direction.
From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2026
So I consulted my colleague Rolfe Winkler, who has a larger grip.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
She consulted on a study by Corebridge Financial that found that 60% of retirees had more money now than when they stopped working, while 14% had about the same.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
During closing arguments, Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington recalled that the mother had made several pleas for help before the killings and received "lousy medical care" from the doctors she consulted.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
I knew exact instances when he’d consulted his wife about military strategy.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
McVay said the decision to pursue surgery was made after consulting with Garrett immediately after the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
After consulting a lawyer, Lowrimore finally drove to a hospital in Kansas, where abortion is legal, and got an injection of the cancer drug called methotrexate within hours of arrival.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Both Brand and Ibrahim Bulut, a museum security expert from a Belgian security consulting firm, believe many thefts that followed the Louvre burglary are copycats.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Daryanani’s analysis of the potential for IBM’s software, consulting and infrastructure businesses will mean an equity value of $281, he wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
The two had been consulting about how to save the peregrines of the Delhi Bridge.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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.
