consist

1 of 2

verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
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

consist

2 of 2

noun

con·​sist ˈkän-ˌsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb that account consists with the information in the other reports
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The diet of Blue Zone centenarians consists largely of legumes, like black beans, azuki beans, soybeans, lentils, and broad beans, while meat is consumed only five times a month. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 At elite universities, research shows, the Black population consists disproportionately of immigrants and children of immigrants rather than students whose ancestors were enslaved here. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The district also consists largely of suburban areas where Democrats have gained ground nationwide, particularly after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 Each diet contained the exact same quantity of calories, sugars, fiber, fat, salt and carbohydrates — the only difference was that one diet consisted only of foods that were ultraprocessed, Hall said. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024 Our group, consisting mostly of veteran travel writers, agreed the staff at all the camps were unusual, even among five-star resorts. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 His litigation strategy in all of the criminal prosecutions against him has consisted, in large part, of trying to slow things down. Adam Liptak, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Currently Medtronic business consist Cardiovascular Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio and Diabetic Operating Unit. Joe Cornell, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Since 2019, Ananda's male clientele has grown by 14 percent, consisting mostly of men between 35 and 65. Prasad Ramamurthy, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
The most basic consist of mounded earth. Thomas Page, CNN, 18 July 2022 Most of the unscheduled feedings (i.e. snacks and desserts) that Kenyan runners partake of consist of fresh fruit. Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 27 July 2015 Classified as Ourasphaira giraldae, the ancient microfungi consist of branching filaments attached to bulbous structures. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2019 The typical types of output today from generative AI consist of output that is purely text or that is pure art. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2022 But that ignores how much of the content on other platforms like Instagram and TikTok consist of Twitter screenshots! Ew Staff, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2022 These pillows consist of an organic cotton cover filled with buckwheat hulls that can be removed or added to adjust the height and level. Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023 The front and rear suspensions each consist of a rigid axle located by leaf springs. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 5 Jan. 2023 By 2030, Porsche hopes to have more than 80 percent of its sales consist of EVs. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 13 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consist.' 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

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French consister "to lie, reside (in), stay permanently, comprise," borrowed from Latin consistere "to stop moving, come to a halt, remain at the same level, take up a position, reside, be composed (of), be established (in a given state), come into existence," from con- con- + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt" — more at assist entry 1

Noun

derivative of consist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consist was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near consist

Cite this Entry

“Consist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

consist

verb
con·​sist
kən-ˈsist
: to be made up or composed
breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit
coal consists mostly of carbon

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