consist

verb con·sist \ kən-ˈsist \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: consist in a Sentence

Definition of consist

consisted; consisting; consists

intransitive verb

1 : lie, reside —usually used with in

Liberty consists in the absence of obstructions …
—A. E. Housman

"In her consists my happiness … "
—William Shakespeare

2 archaic

a : exist, be

b : to be capable of existing

3 : to be composed or made up —usually used with of

Breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit.

The team consists of five players.

4 : to be consistent

it consists with the facts

See consist defined for English-language learners

See consist defined for kids

Examples of consist in a Sentence

that account consists with the information in the other reports

Recent Examples of consist from the Web

In a year and a half of existence, Tech for Campaigns has become a kind of Democratic Geek Squad — a national volunteer network consisting of more than 4,500 tech workers with day jobs at companies like Google, Facebook, Netflix and Airbnb.

— New York Times, "4,500 Tech Workers, 1 Mission: Get Democrats Elected," 13 July 2018
The bill also establishes a Child Welfare Oversight and Advisory Committee consisting of 10 members appointed by Senate and House leaders.

— emma austin, The Courier-Journal, "Sex ed, terrorism and revenge porn: New Kentucky laws start Saturday," 13 July 2018
This year's flash mob consisted of over 60 men from several different countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Guatemala, Armstead says.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Flash mob of over 60 a cappella singers fills Chick-fil-A with gospel music," 12 July 2018
Katie Goodwin, public lands associate at the Access Fund, sees many closures consisting of a half-mile radius that extends from a cliff face.

— ula chrobak, Outside Online, "We're Overprotecting Birds at the Expense of Climbers," 12 July 2018
For a hundred years, microphones consisted of a relatively large membrane whose vibrations were converted to electrical impulses.

— christopher mims, WSJ, "All Ears: Always-On Listening Devices Could Soon Be Everywhere," 12 July 2018
Patterns amid the fields show that the site consisted of five main enclosures, with a curious ring inside the main one.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "A Heat Wave is Revealing Centuries-Old Sites in Wales," 11 July 2018
The three-piece band, consisting of 13 Reasons Why star Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston, debuts with a 15 percent boost in spins on alternative radio in the week ending July 8, according to Nielsen Music.

— kevin rutherford, Billboard, "Wallows Makes Alternative Songs Chart Debut With 'Pictures of Girls'," 11 July 2018
The standard sprint triathlon, sanctioned by the USA Triathlon, consisting of a 14.8-mile bike ride, 500-meter swim and three-mile run will be joined by two new events — duathlon and aquabike — that will go on simultaneously.

— karen zurawski, Houston Chronicle, "Triathlon comes home to Katy with new features," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of consist

Middle French & Latin; Middle French consister, from Latin consistere, literally, to stop, stand still, from com- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1526

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

consist Synonyms

Phrases

fall in with;

consist

noun con·sist \ ˈkän-ˌsist \

Definition of consist

: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Recent Examples of consist from the Web

Known as the Ward Mound Group, the remaining mounds consist of an effigy of a bird, and a partial dog effigy on about 3 acres.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tie vote at Wisconsin Supreme Court protects Native American burial site," 22 May 2018
Built in 1070, the complex consists of five courtyards dedicated to Confucius and the pursuit of Confucian thought and behavior.

— antonia neubauer, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Asia," 5 Oct. 2016
Pipala’s Sunday afternoons consist of jumping over the pit wall and changing the front tires in a dozen or so seconds.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Something about Shayne: Frankfort Square native Shayne Pipala keeps tires on NASCAR track for Kurt Busch," 29 June 2018
Microsoft: The Microsoft Store’s free YouthSpark Summer Camps consist of two-hour sessions for students with different skill levels.

— kelly tyko, USA TODAY, "Summer fun! Keep the kids occupied with free and cheap activities," 25 June 2018
Obama’s arrangement and blasted the Cuban government’s human rights abuses, which consist of persistent harassment of dissidents.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "A year after Trump reversed Obama's opening to Cuba, the U.S. is sitting out Havana's political revamp," 22 June 2018
The Glow Face Palette ($45) consists of four shimmery and silky highlighters in rosy pink, bronze, golden tan, and white champagne.

— jenna rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Dior Launched A Less-Expensive Beauty Line Called Backstage—We Have All the Details," 29 May 2018
Some of Baldwin's growth comes from natural causes and some from international arrivals, but the bulk of it -- more than 27,000 people since 2010 -- consists of Americans moving in from other parts of the country.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Census figures: Baldwin booms on, Mobile County holds on," 22 Mar. 2018
The women's respite beds, for instance, consist of 12 bottom bunks scattered throughout the general clients' sleeping quarters at Patricia Handy Place for Women.

— chicagotribune.com, "Flu, crowded shelters create perfect storm for homeless," 5 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of consist

see ¹consist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1898

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CONSIST Defined for Kids

consist

verb con·sist \ kən-ˈsist \

Definition of consist for Students

consisted; consisting

: to be made up or composed

Coal consists mostly of carbon.

Word Root of consist

The Latin word sistere, meaning “to stand,” “to appear,” “to stop,” or “to put,” gives us the root sist. Words from the Latin sistere have something to do with standing, appearing, stopping, or putting. To assist, or help, is to stand by someone in order to give aid. To consist is to be made up of a number of thing put together. To exist, or have actual being, is to appear real. To persist is to refuse to stop doing or saying something.