consult

1 of 2

verb

con·​sult kən-ˈsəlt How to pronounce consult (audio)
consulted; consulting; consults

transitive verb

1
: to have regard to : consider
"Adams, consult your own safety, and don't remain here … "Charles Dickens
2
a
: to ask the advice or opinion of
consult a doctor
consult a lawyer
b
: to refer to
consult a dictionary

intransitive verb

1
: to consult an individual
consulted with experts on the matter
2
: to deliberate together : confer
… the three powers would consult on how to ameliorate the internal political conflict …W. S. Vucinich
3
: to serve as a consultant
consulter noun

consult

2 of 2

noun

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Confer vs. Consult

Confer and consult are very closely related in meaning, and each has senses that are synonymous with the other’s. But as is so often the case with near-synonyms, there are contexts in which one word is preferable to the other.

If you confer with someone, it is entirely possible that you will be seeking advice, but you could also simply be having a discussion (“they conferred privately before making a decision”). If you are consulting someone or something, it is more likely that you are seeking advice (“he consulted his doctor before deciding on a course of treatment”). Consult is unambiguously the correct choice when one is seeking guidance or information from a non-human source; you would consult (not confer with) a dictionary for information on a word.

The sense of confer that is concerned with giving something (as in, “education confers many benefits”) is not shared by consult.

Examples of consult in a Sentence

Verb consult a lawyer about a business matter You should not attempt these exercises without first consulting your doctor. He made the decision without consulting me. I expect to be consulted on important decisions. I don't remember that part of the meeting; I'll have to consult my notes. Noun it was time for a change of do, which called for a consult with her hairdresser
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The former general manager continues to consult on Metropolitan matters for four of the water agency’s members, including the city of Pasadena. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Organizers advise the public to consult their website for updates to their list of current and upcoming events, which so far does not include a stop in Cincinnati. Jackie Borchardt, The Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
Toby recounted a personal story of being able to quickly diagnose and treat a poison ivy rash on his daughter with an uploaded photo in a telemedicine consult, rather than spending the time and money to take her to an emergency department. Bill Frist, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Meredith immediately takes Catherine’s scans across the street to Bailey (Chandra Wilson) for a consult. Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for consult 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French consulter, from Latin consultare, frequentative of consulere to deliberate, counsel, consult

First Known Use

Verb

1527, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consult was in 1527

Dictionary Entries Near consult

Cite this Entry

“Consult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consult. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

consult

verb
con·​sult
kən-ˈsəlt
1
: to seek the opinion or advice of
consult a doctor
2
: to seek information from
consult a dictionary
3
: to talk something over
have to consult with my lawyer
consulter noun

Medical Definition

consult

transitive verb
con·​sult kən-ˈsəlt How to pronounce consult (audio)
: to ask the advice or opinion of
consult a doctor

More from Merriam-Webster on consult

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