consolidate

verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt 

consolidated; consolidating

transitive verb

1

: to join together into one whole : unite

consolidate several small school districts

2

: to make firm or secure : strengthen

consolidate their hold on first place

He consolidated his position as head of the political party.

3

: 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

Synonyms of consolidate

• concentrate
• integrate
• merge
• unite
• combine
• centralize
• unify

Examples of consolidate in a Sentence

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

The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

According to the think tank InSight Crime, the alliance between these factions was one of the main reasons the Sinaloa cartel consolidated itself as one of the most powerful in the region. — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

The message is sometimes shared with borrowers when student loans are consolidated or transferred to new companies — even when the person still owes money. — Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 20 July 2026

The ruling granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting the firms from completing the merger and from consolidating their operations. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

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

Rhymes for consolidate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

consolidate

verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsäl-ə-ˌdāt 

consolidated; consolidating

1

: to join together into one whole : unite

2

: 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

a

: 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.

b

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

consolidation

kən-ˌsä-lə-ˈdā-shən 

noun