Dictionary

consume en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /kənˈʃuːm/ (UK)
• kən-so͞om (US)
• /kənˈsjʉːm/ (Australia)
• /kənˈs(j)uːm/ (Canada)
• /kənˈsjuːm/ (Received-Pronunciation, UK)
• (US) audio
• (UK) audio
• [kənˈs(j)ʉːm] (Canada)
• /kənˈsum/ (US)
• /kənˈsɪʊm/ Ottawa Valley

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₁émeti Proto-Italic *emō Latin emō Latin sūmō Latin cōnsūmōder. Old French consumerbor. Middle English consumen English consume From Middle English consumen, from Old French consumer, from Latin cōnsūmere, cōnsūmō, from con- (“with, together”) + sūmō (“take; consume”), from sub- + emō (“to buy, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- (“to take, distribute”), possibly related to the root *nem- (“to take or give one's due”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To use up.
   • The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
2. (transitive) To eat.
   • Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
   • Concerns were raised around the ability of Milky Way species to consume proteins from Andromeda, so seed banks formed a significant part of the arks' cargo. We now know it is safe to consume food grown or hunted here, though enzyme supplements are recommended and have become a social norm at mealtimes. 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Andromeda Wildlife: Overview Codex entry:
3. (transitive) To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.
   • Desire consumed him.
4. (transitive) To destroy completely.
   • Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through to steal: […] 1900, The New Covenant Commonly Called the New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (American Standard Version), New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Matthew 6:19–20:
   • If he were putting to my house the brand / That shall consume it. c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
   • The building was consumed by fire.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To waste away slowly.
   • But, sir, you see how weak I am. You must see that I have been consuming from day to day […]. 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CDXLI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
   • He assured her the child was consuming at that moment in the next room. 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:
   • Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
6. (intransitive, transitive) To obtain and use goods or services as an individual.
   • In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.
   • If you consume this product while in Japan, you may be subject to consumption tax.
7. (transitive) To absorb information, especially through the mass media.
   • The Internet has changed the way we consume news.
   • And influencers are identifying the brands, music, and TV shows that Americans consume. 2026 March 9, Cyrus Veyssi, “In Defense of Influencers”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2026:

Forms

Deriveds

preconsume · unconsumable · consumeless · consoomer · consumation · consumer · underconsume · consumable · overconsume · all-consuming · reconsume · misconsume

Relateds

consumption · consumptive

Synonyms

use up (use) · raze (destroy) · burn (use) · eat (eat) · destroy (destroy) · occupy (occupy) · expend (use) · obliterate (destroy) · devour (eat) · annihilate (destroy) · devastate (destroy) · eliminate (destroy) · swallow (eat) · wipe out (destroy) · take over (occupy) · use (use) · overcome (occupy)

Translations (165)

cmn 日漸衰弱 /日渐衰弱 (5. waste away) · fi kuluttaa (7. absorb information) · vi tiêu thụ (1. use up) · bg заемам (3. occupy thoughts) · txb śu- (2. eat) · khi-kun m (2. eat) · th ใช้ (1. use up) · bg отнемам (3. occupy thoughts) · cs spotřebovat (1. use up) · it distruggere (4. destroy completely) · ca consumir (2. eat) · tr kullanmak (1. use up) · he צרך (1. use up) · ja 破壊する (4. destroy completely) · cmn 閱讀 /阅读 (7. absorb information) · ja 摂取する (2. eat) · it consumare (1. use up) · cmn 看 (7. absorb information) · uk спожи́ти (1. use up) · hu fogyaszt (1. use up) · hu elfogyaszt (1. use up) · sv förtära (2. eat) · hi उपभोग करना (2. eat) · es consumirse (5. waste away) · zza xerc kerden (1. use up) · fr consommer (2. eat) · oc consumar (2. eat) · zza dayen (7. absorb information) · ro consuma (1. use up) · ja 使い果たす (1. use up) · la peredō (2. eat) · cmn 消費 /消费 (6. trade money for good or services) · pt consumir (4. destroy completely) · el εξαντλώ (1. use up) · io manjar (2. eat) · tr bitirmek (4. destroy completely) · no fortære (2. eat) · ru потреблять (2. eat) · nl verteren (4. destroy completely) · la exedō (2. eat) · nl verbruiken (1. use up) · fa تمام وجود کسی را فرا گرفتن (3. occupy thoughts) · es consumir (7. absorb information) · mi none (1. use up) · kw kowlleski (4. destroy completely) · mi whakapeto (6. trade money for good or services) · de verzehren (4. destroy completely) · sl uživati (2. eat) · uk спожива́ти (2. eat) · cmn 日益消瘦 (5. waste away) · zza werden (2. eat) · zza bas kerden (4. destroy completely) · sa अत्ति (2. eat) · pt consumir (1. use up) · ru вбирать (7. absorb information) · es consumir (4. destroy completely) · fa نابود شدن (4. destroy completely) · fi kuluttaa (3. occupy thoughts) · hu elfogyaszt (2. eat) · it consumare (2. eat) · vi dùng (1. use up) · tr yoğaltmak (4. destroy completely) · no bruke opp (1. use up) · el εκμηδενίζω (4. destroy completely) · fi kuluttaa (6. trade money for good or services) · ro se consuma (3. occupy thoughts) · ga caith (1. use up) · cmn 用盡 /用尽 (1. use up) · cmn 迷住 (3. occupy thoughts) · lv patērēt (1. use up) · sv inmundiga (2. eat) · bg изразходвам (1. use up) · uk спожи́ти (2. eat) · th กิน (2. eat) · nl consumeren (1. use up) · es desperecerse (5. waste away) · cmn 吞噬 (4. destroy completely) · bg поглъщам (4. destroy completely) · fa مصرف کردن (1. use up) · cmn 耗費 /耗费 (1. use up) · gl consumir (1. use up) · nl bezighouden (3. occupy thoughts) · ru занима́ть (3. occupy thoughts) · nl consumeren (4. destroy completely) · uk спожива́ти (1. use up) · tr tüketmek (4. destroy completely) · es consumir (2. eat) · es consumir (1. use up) · it consumare (4. destroy completely) · sga caithid (2. eat) · cmn 攝取 /摄取 (2. eat) · el αφανίζω (4. destroy completely) · es consumir (3. occupy thoughts) · tr yemek (2. eat) · mi whakapeto (1. use up) · pl spożywać (2. eat) · fi tuhota (4. destroy completely) · hi खाना (2. eat) · eo konsumi (2. eat) · gl consumir (2. eat) · zza karnen (1. use up) · fi kalvaa (3. occupy thoughts) · ang āspendan (1. use up) · mi whakapau (6. trade money for good or services) · fi riutua (5. waste away) · fi tuhoutua (4. destroy completely) · ja 食べ尽くす (2. eat) · da forbruge (1. use up) · he צרך (2. eat) · de verbrauchen (1. use up) · sga caithid (1. use up) · cmn 吸收 (7. absorb information) · ja 食する (2. eat) · vi tàn phá (4. destroy completely) · ja 消耗する (1. use up) · fr consommer (1. use up) · hu elpusztít (4. destroy completely) · sl užiti (2. eat) · nl verteren (3. occupy thoughts) · zza qedinen (2. eat) · de aufnehmen (7. absorb information) · ru потреблять (1. use up) · bg изяждам (2. eat) · fi syödä (2. eat) · ro consuma (2. eat) · cmn 耗盡 /耗尽 (1. use up) · el καταναλώνω (1. use up) · ga caith (2. eat) · bg изпивам (2. eat) · sa खादति (2. eat) · fi kuluttaa (2. eat) · hu felemészt (4. destroy completely) · cmn 摧毀 /摧毁 (4. destroy completely) · fi kulua (5. waste away) · cmn 食用 (2. eat) · tr tüketmek (2. eat) · tr harcamak (1. use up) · cmn 消耗 (1. use up) · it assorbire (7. absorb information) · ru расходовать (1. use up) · nl consumeren (2. eat) · de verzehren (2. eat) · fr consumer (4. destroy completely) · fi kuluttaa (1. use up) · cmn 著迷 /着迷 (3. occupy thoughts) · pl zużyć (1. use up) · ja 消費する (1. use up) · hu él (1. use up) · pt consumir (2. eat) · el εξολοθρεύω (4. destroy completely) · fa مصرف کردن (2. eat) · vi ăn (2. eat) · ru поедать (2. eat) · da indtage (2. eat) · pl spożyć (2. eat) · no forbruke (1. use up) · ru поглоща́ть (3. occupy thoughts) · th อุปโภค (1. use up) · th บริโภค (2. eat) · cmn 吃 (2. eat) · ru поглоща́ть (4. destroy completely) · el καταναλώνω (2. eat) · hi उपभुक्त (1. use up) · hu fogyaszt (2. eat) · mi whakahemo (1. use up)