console

noun con·sole \ ˈkän-ˌsōl \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

1 : an architectural member projecting from a wall to form a bracket or from a keystone for ornament

2 : console table

3 a : an upright case that houses the keyboards and controlling mechanisms of an organ and from which the organ is played

b : a combination of readouts or displays and an input device (such as a keyboard or switches) by which an operator can monitor and interact with a system (such as a computer or dubber)

4 a : a cabinet (as for a radio or television set) designed to rest directly on the floor

b : a small storage cabinet between bucket seats in an automobile

5 : an electronic system that connects to a display (such as a television set) and is used primarily to play video games

See console defined for English-language learners

See console defined for kids

Examples of console in a Sentence

a custom-built walnut console holds all of their home-theater components

Recent Examples of console from the Web

Amazon Prime Video will be available to Xbox One X owners when the console launches on November 7.

— don reisinger, Fortune, "Microsoft Xbox One X Gets Amazon Prime Video in All Its 4K Glory," 2 Nov. 2017
Males entered an unlocked vehicle overnight and took an iPad, Beats headphone, Ford center console tray and about $5 in cash.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Boynton Beach Area Crime Log: Oct. 2 - 15," 27 Oct. 2017
Passengers carrying electronic devices larger than a cell phone, such as tablets, e-readers and video game consoles, are now required to place their items in separate bins independent of all other baggage.

— benjy egel, sacbee, "Flying out of Sacramento? A new TSA rule awaits | The Sacramento Bee," 24 Oct. 2017
However, the miniaturized reissue of the console can actually play a lot more games, thanks to a new hack.

— david meyer, Fortune, "How To Get More Games Onto Nintendo's SNES Classic Edition," 11 Oct. 2017
The appeal of the console outside of Nintendo’s hard-core fans is also untested.

— jacky wong, WSJ, "Nintendo Switches on the Growth," 22 Sep. 2017
This week, Gran Turismo Sport was released, accelerating onto Playstations everywhere finally bringing its gorgeous, hardcore, ultra-realistic take on racing to modern consoles.

— joshua rivera, GQ, "Gran Turismo Sport or Forza 7: Which Racing Game Should You Take For a Spin?," 18 Oct. 2017
Oak Brook Burglary An unspecified amount of cash and credit cards were reported stolen at 3:31 p.m. Oct. 1 from a wallet in the center console of a vehicle parked on the 2000 block of York Road.

— chuck fieldman, chicagotribune.com, "Police blotter: Apple Store, Nordstrom hit with thefts at Oakbrook Center," 6 Oct. 2017
The oversized reel-to-reel console, complete with wave-form monitors and oscilloscopes, looks like a relic of the Gemini program.

— kevin cook, Smithsonian, "Joe Pyne Was America’s First Shock Jock," 29 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of console

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1664

See Words from the same year

console Synonyms

Synonyms

buffet, cabinet, closet, cupboard, hutch, locker, press, sideboard;

dresser, pie safe;

armoire, clothespress, wardrobe;

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

console

verb con·sole \ kən-ˈsōl \

consoled; consoling

transitive verb

: to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of : comfort

console a widow

I consoled myself with the thought that things could be much worse.

—

consoler

noun, plural consolers

- He was a tactful consoler and capable of great generosity to people in trouble.
- —Ferdinand Mount

—

consolingly

play \-ˈsō-liŋ-lē\ adverb

See console defined for English-language learners

Examples of console in a Sentence

Nothing could console her after his death.
the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral

Recent Examples of console from the Web

In a recent 11-4 loss to a pretty good Loveland team, the brothers went from cheering to consoling those upset over an uncharacteristic lopsided loss.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "Summit Country Day's Schertzingers suffer twin peaks, valleys," 4 Apr. 2018
One of the lasting images at full time was Luis Suarez crying into his shirt as his teammates tried to console him.

— SI.com, "Liverpool Fans React to Crystal Palace's Painful Reminder Ahead of Weekend Meeting," 31 Mar. 2018
Diller tried to console Khosrowshahi, and the two were on the phone when Diller received an e-mail.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "At Uber, a New C.E.O. Shifts Gears," 30 Mar. 2018
The sporty-looking wrapper is accompanied by interior upgrades such as model-specific gauges, pedals, and console trim.

— greg fink, Car and Driver, "Joining the A-Team: Acura MDX Adds Sporty A-Spec Trim for 2019," 28 Mar. 2018
As vice president, Biden often joined President Barack Obama in consoling victims of mass shootings.

— NBC News, "Joe Biden shares his own losses with Parkland victims' families," 23 Mar. 2018
Miramar Police sent a victim’s advocate to help console victims’ families and officers to help direct traffic, Rues said.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Two Miramar SWAT officers suspended for heading to Parkland massacre," 8 Mar. 2018
Less than 24 hours later, Kurth was consoling grieving teachers and students before a vigil at Pine Trails Park, a public recreational facility with turf playing fields, an amphitheater and high-end playground equipment.

— author: kevin sullivan, tim craig, william wan, Anchorage Daily News, "Pain turns political in Parkland after school shootings," 17 Feb. 2018
Prayer has helped console their family, bringing peace and helping to eliminate nightmares that plagued the dreams of 7-year-old Sabrina and 4-year-old Cason after the tragedy.

— keith huffman, The Seattle Times, "After tragedy, family embraces ‘hope’ in mourning 3-year-old," 18 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of console

French consoler, from Latin consolari, from com- + solari to console

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1673

See Words from the same year

console Synonyms

CONSOLE Defined for English Language Learners

console

noun

: a flat surface that contains the controls for a machine, for a piece of electrical equipment, etc.
: a cabinet for a stereo or television that stands on the floor