consume

verb

con·​sume kən-ˈsüm How to pronounce consume (audio)
consumed; consuming

transitive verb

1
: to do away with completely : destroy
Fire consumed several buildings.
2
a
: to spend wastefully : squander
consumed his inheritance on luxuries
b
: use up
Writing consumed much of his time.
3
a
: to eat or drink especially in great quantity
consumed several bags of pretzels
b
: to enjoy avidly : devour
… mysteries, which she consumes for fun …Eden Ross Lipson
4
: to engage fully : engross
consumed with curiosity
5
: to utilize as a customer
consume goods and services

intransitive verb

1
: to waste or burn away : perish
2
: to utilize economic goods

Examples of consume in a Sentence

The new lights consume less electricity. She's making an effort to live more simply and consume less. Hundreds of books were consumed in the fire.
Recent Examples on the Web The recent back-and-forth is a snapshot of a discourse that has consumed the race since Republicans signaled late last year that Hovde would challenge Baldwin. Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 That has kept some of his most raw and incendiary commentary confined to the conservative ecosystem, where only his supporters consume it. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Sometimes uncured tobacco powders were consumed during these procedures. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Relying on repurposed materials reduces waste sent to landfills and consumes less energy, especially if they’re acquired nearby. Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 In the hours after a workout, adults should also consume about 20 to 40 grams of protein to help build muscle and repair tissue. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Last month, researchers at Tufts University published a study that found people who consumed plenty of plant protein in mid-life had significantly higher odds of healthy aging – more evidence that what's good for our health is also good for the planet. Allison Aubrey, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 Websites are not mere static entities but vibrant hubs where data is both created and consumed. Sandro Shubladze, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The energy involved in data crossing from one silicon die to another can easily consume a big chunk of a product’s power budget if the per-bit energy cost is too high. IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consume.' 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

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French consumer, from Latin consumere, from com- + sumere to take up, take, from sub- up + emere to take — more at sub-, redeem

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consume was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near consume

Cite this Entry

“Consume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consume. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

consume

verb
con·​sume kən-ˈsüm How to pronounce consume (audio)
consumed; consuming
1
: to destroy by or as if by fire
2
: use up, spend
the search consumed most of our time
3
: to eat or drink up
consumed a whole gallon of ice cream
4
: to take up the interest or attention of
was consumed with curiosity
5
: to use as a customer
consume goods and services
consumable
-ˈsü-mə-bəl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on consume

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