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
Family policies about tablets, laptops, and video-game consoles should be aligned with smartphone restrictions to prevent overuse of other screen activities. Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024 Its light-catching black weave gives a sporty but elegant look to console covers and door trim inlays. Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Retailers will be offering a $25 gift card with the purchase of a Nintendo Switch console. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2024 Labyrinth will be the first new Blade Runner game for consoles and PC in 25 years. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The front seating area is dominated by the high central console, which incorporates a couple of decently sized cubbies. James Morris, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Atari's first home video game console, Atari 2600, debuted in 1972. Aaron Morales, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2024 The rocker for switching between Eco, Normal and Sport power modes remains in the central console. James Morris, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Both releases came out on the Switch; the hybrid Nintendo console was also home to Sword and Shield, which launched in 2019. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Stefanovic came over to console him with a pat on the back going into a timeout. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The friend of Harith praised the girl's wisdom and honor and consoled his frustrated friend. Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2024 After the awards show ended, Scorsese was seen hugging and consoling Gladstone, perhaps discussing the Oscar going to Stone. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 This includes writing a letter to a loved one, consoling a struggling friend, or other tasks where your personal humanity is an important feature. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 For most of 2021 and 2022, broad swaths of the economy dealt with supply chain disruptions that affected the availability of wine and video game consoles to cars and eggs. Nigel Chiwaya, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 Or, like that morning, consoling people who approach him in tears because their favorite store is going away. John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2024 Lilah was having trouble sleeping one night, so her dad stepped in to console her. Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Over those 48 hours, however, Purdy consoled his teammates. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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