consist

1 of 2

verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist 

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 

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

Synonyms of consist

Verb

• correspond
• coincide
• conform

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb

that account consists with the information in the other reports

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The scientific evidence behind the drug so far consists mostly of small observational studies and open-label trials. —Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

The Alameda building consists primarily of 10,900 square feet of office space that can be divided into as many as four office suites, according to a marketing brochure by Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate firm. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026

Women’s health is often thought of as consisting solely of reproductive health issues. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 10 Apr. 2026

When Tyler had a birthday, the neighborhood gave him a collective gift that consisted solely of pickleball paraphernalia. —Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing consist

• consist in
• consist of

Rhymes for consist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

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