console

verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl 

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

kən-ˈsō-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of console

• comfort
• reassure
• assure
• soothe

Examples of console in a Sentence

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

The contest was laboured for much of normal time and extra-time, lacking a defining moment or image, but Gabriel gave it to us with a twitchy attempt over the crossbar, a crushing error which led PSG captain Marquinhos (his Brazil team-mate) to console him immediately, above. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 1 June 2026

The star appeared alongside Jean Smart, who consoled her over the comedy's conclusion before Einbinder fell to the ground. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026

As Rosneqvist celebrated by sipping milk, then dumping it over his head, Malukas was consoled by his father in pit lane. —Michael Marot, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026

They could be seen hugging and consoling each other. —Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 19 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing console

• console game
• console table

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