console

1 of 2

noun

con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl How to pronounce console (audio)
1
: an architectural member projecting from a wall to form a bracket or from a keystone for ornament
2
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

console

2 of 2

verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl How to pronounce console (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of console in a Sentence

Noun a custom-built walnut console holds all of their home-theater components Verb Nothing could console her after his death. the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This is because the gaming company releases new bundles that take the financial sting out of getting a console and enticing new gamers by including a few extra goodies at no extra cost. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023 That morning, Stevens was getting ready at his station, a 144-channel mixing console in the show’s main production truck. Jody Rosen, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023 Players can customize the controller’s inputs on their PS5 console and store up to 30 control profiles. Popular Science, 29 Nov. 2023 Stunningly fast response times of 9.2 milliseconds and support for every current-generation console feature, by way of its four HDMI sockets, justified crowning the C3 as the Best TV for Gamers. Matt Jancer, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023 Americans have been snapping up Squishmallows, Barbies and accessories, Lego sets, Nintendo Switch consoles, headphones, makeup gift sets, pajamas and sweaters, the data show. Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 The console is decorated with a palm leaf design inspired by the popular game. Alex Nelson, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Nintendo and Square had a messy breakup not long after Mario RPG was released, and Square shifted almost all of its attention to Sony's PlayStation consoles for years afterward. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023 Cost: The best gifts for 9-year-olds come in a huge range from under $10 to hundreds of dollars for something like a gaming console or a tablet. Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023
Verb
Over the course of the work the two women embrace, console each other and walk together, as if embarking on a long journey. Marina Harss, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023 Though Joséphine did console herself with a new lover in her husband’s absence, Napoleon wasn’t faithful either, beginning a relationship with the wife of a junior army officer in 1798. Nathan Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023 At the campaign headquarters, supporters consoled each other. David Feliba, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023 For Aaliyah, the news came as a total shock, especially because Lydia had become her closest friend in the women's living quarters, even going so far as to console her during a rough patch with Uche. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023 There are hundreds of different styles of boats, from 18-foot bass boats to saltwater center consoles from 20 to 65 feet LOA, all the way up to a new 171-footer designed as the world’s first sportfishing superyacht. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2023 Justin Parks consoling his head coach Butch Jones during a tough afternoon ❤️ pic.twitter.com/88TZvgmywl — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 2, 2023 Jones mentioned the moment during his post-game press conference. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 3 Sep. 2023 Zion himself took a break from his stage duties to hug and console his mother, eventually returning to the spotlight to give a brief message of world peace and love. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2023 The Rescuer The Rescuer is the savior, the magical helper who shows up to save the day (e.g., Luke Skywalker/Han Solo) by comforting and consoling the Victim, affirming how egregiously the Victim has been wronged. Neha Sangwan, Fortune Well, 26 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Noun

French

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of console was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near console

Cite this Entry

“Console.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/console. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

console

1 of 2 noun
con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl How to pronounce console (audio)
1
a
: the part of an organ at which the organist sits and which contains the keyboard and controls
b
: a panel or cabinet with dials and switches for controlling an electronic or mechanical device
2
: a cabinet (as for a phonograph or television set) that stands on the floor
3
: an electronic system that connects to a display (as a TV set) and is used to play video games

console

2 of 2 verb
con·​sole kən-ˈsōl How to pronounce console (audio)
consoled; consoling
: to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering

More from Merriam-Webster on console

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