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
consoled; consoling
: 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
Ferdinand Mount
Synonyms
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 WebRudie 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
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
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
Phrases Containing console
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.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
console
1 of 2 noun
con·sole
ˈkän-ˌsōl 
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
consoled; consoling
: to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering
More from Merriam-Webster on console
Nglish: Translation of console for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of console for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about console
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share