consolidate

verb

con·sol·i·date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt

consolidated; consolidating

Synonyms of consolidate next

transitive verb

: to join together into one whole : unite

consolidate several small school districts

: to make firm or secure : strengthen

consolidate their hold on first place

He consolidated his position as head of the political party.

: to form into a compact mass

The press consolidates the fibers into board.

intransitive verb

: to become consolidated

specifically : merge

The two companies consolidated.

consolidator

kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdā-tər

noun

Example Sentences

The two funds will consolidate into one. The administration hopes that such measures will consolidate its position. Rebel forces have consolidated their hold on the region.

Recent Examples on the Web Another option is to consolidate those debts by getting a personal loan, using the funds to pay off the credit card balances and then repay the one loan. —

Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2023 Facing a $24 million deficit for 2023-24, Hartford Public Schools is planning to implement a hiring freeze for some positions, consolidate programs and reduce expenses. —

Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2023 One possibility is to consolidate credit card bills and lower interest rates into a single, manageable payment. —

Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2023 And one way to save money is to consolidate schools. —

oregonlive, 6 Feb. 2023 At the same time, the TV business continues to consolidate and course correct following years of free spending and bloated budgets. —

Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2023 Believers argue that measures including pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates are tools to consolidate power and undercut individual sovereignty. —

Time, 16 Jan. 2023 Ultimately, the point of owning a smart oven is to consolidate the functionality of several appliances (such as an air fryer, oven, and microwave) into one compact, easy-to-use device. —

Elizabeth Briskin, Popular Mechanics, 26 Oct. 2022 The first is to potentially consolidate small financial aid programs that are run by various state agencies so that Wisconsin students and families can access information in a one-stop state website. —

Devi Shastri, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin consolidatus, past participle of consolidare to make solid, from com- + solidus solid

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of consolidate was circa 1512

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Consolidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

consolidate

verb

con·sol·i·date kən-ˈsäl-ə-ˌdāt

consolidated; consolidating

: to join together into one whole : unite

: to make firm or safe : strengthen

consolidate a beachhead

consolidation

kən-ˌsäl-ə-ˈdā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

consolidate

transitive verb

con·sol·i·date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt

consolidated; consolidating

: to join together into one whole: as

: to combine (two or more lawsuits or matters that involve a common question of law or fact) into one compare class action

Note: Consolidation of matters in the federal courts is governed by Rule 42 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Consolidated cases may become one single action with a single judgment, or may retain their individual identities although tried together. The court may also try one representative case and render a judgment binding on the other cases.

: to combine (two or more corporations) to form one new corporation compare merger

consolidation

kən-ˌsä-lə-ˈdā-shən

noun