console

1 of 2

noun

con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl 

1

: an architectural member projecting from a wall to form a bracket or from a keystone for ornament

2

: console table

3

a

: an upright case that houses the keyboards and controlling mechanisms of an organ and from which the organ is played

b

: a combination of readouts or displays and an input device (such as a keyboard or switches) by which an operator can monitor and interact with a system (such as a computer or dubber)

4

a

: a cabinet (as for a radio or television set) designed to rest directly on the floor

b

: a small storage cabinet between bucket seats in an automobile

5

: an electronic system that connects to a display (such as a television set) and is used primarily to play video games

console

2 of 2

verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl 

consoled; consoling

transitive verb

: to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of : comfort

console a widow

I consoled myself with the thought that things could be much worse.

consoler noun

plural consolers

He was a tactful consoler and capable of great generosity to people in trouble.

—Ferdinand Mount

consolingly

kən-ˈsō-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• cabinet
• cupboard
• locker
• closet
• dresser

Verb

• comfort
• reassure
• assure
• soothe

Examples of console in a Sentence

Noun

a custom-built walnut console holds all of their home-theater components

Verb

Nothing could console her after his death.

the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before Trump even took office, experts had warned that his global trade war—imposing tariffs on imports of various goods from various countries in a bid to strike more favorable trade deals for the US—risked spiking prices of popular tech products like laptops, game consoles, and smartphones. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025

The new generation of products, most of which are imported from China, feature vaping mechanisms that are concealed as backpacks, smartphone cases, highlighters and handheld video game consoles, officials said. —Laura Romero, ABC News, 22 July 2025

Verb

Jinny ran out of the house to safety, and Richard tried his best to console his brother, who held the gun to his own head, threatening suicide. —Julia Moore, People.com, 24 July 2025

Here's what consoles College Football 26 will be on: PlayStation 5 Xbox X|S There will be no versions for PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

Verb

French consoler, from Latin consolari, from com- + solari to console

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing console

• console table

Kids Definition

console

1 of 2 noun

con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl 

1

a

: the part of an organ at which the organist sits and which contains the keyboard and controls

b

: a panel or cabinet with dials and switches for controlling an electronic or mechanical device

2

: a cabinet (as for a phonograph or television set) that stands on the floor

3

: an electronic system that connects to a display (as a TV set) and is used to play video games

console

2 of 2 verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl 

consoled; consoling

: to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering