consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsi-stənt 
1
a
: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction
a consistent style in painting
Data from recent experiments show consistent results.
Prior to World War I, many Americans didn't maintain consistent spellings of their first and last names.—
Michael Waters
Michael Waters
b
: marked by agreement : compatible
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
—usually used with withstatements not consistent with the truth
symptoms consistent with heart disease
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
… the necropsy results revealed distinct holes in the wolves' skulls that were consistent with cougar bites.—Dac Collins
Dac Collins
c
: showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom
a consistent patriot
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
d
: continuing to happen or develop in the same way
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement.
2
: tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated as the sample becomes large
a consistent statistical estimator
3
archaic
: possessing firmness or coherence
consistently
adverb
We played consistently all season.
The store has consistently low prices.
Examples of consistent in a Sentence
… the sixty-five-year-old filmmaker continues to practice his craft with consistent artistic aplomb.
—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brock sets sights on first title since 2008 A move to Class 4A in the last UIL realignment cycle hasn’t stopped Brock baseball from being a consistent powerhouse.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Adults should aim for 7 to 8 hours of rest at night and have consistent bed and wake-up times.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
The Navy remained consistent with its promise to deliver a total of 122 manned ships and 63 unmanned platforms over the course of five years.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
It is designed to remain consistent across hours of use.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Adults should aim for 7 to 8 hours of rest at night and have consistent bed and wake-up times.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026
The Navy remained consistent with its promise to deliver a total of 122 manned ships and 63 unmanned platforms over the course of five years.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
It is designed to remain consistent across hours of use.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Cite this Entry
“Consistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consistent. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: being in agreement or harmony
actions consistent with our policy
2
: being unchanging in behavior or beliefs
a consistent supporter
consistently
adverb
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