consume

verb

con·sume kən-ˈsüm

consumed; consuming

Synonyms of consume next

transitive verb

: to do away with completely : destroy

Fire consumed several buildings.

: to spend wastefully : squander

consumed his inheritance on luxuries

: use up

Writing consumed much of his time.

: to eat or drink especially in great quantity

consumed several bags of pretzels

: to enjoy avidly : devour

… mysteries, which she consumes for fun …—

Eden Ross Lipson

: to engage fully : engross

consumed with curiosity

: to utilize as a customer

consume goods and services

intransitive verb

: to waste or burn away : perish

: 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 Most people who are infected experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps anywhere between six hours to six days after consuming the contaminated food. —

Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023 The fate of the captives has consumed the Israeli public and growing demonstrations demanding their release helped pushed the government into negotiations. —

Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 Any leftovers should be consumed within three to four days of being refrigerated to avoid bacterial growth. —

Korin Miller, Health, 24 Nov. 2023 According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latino Americans are among those most likely to suffer from lactose intolerance, which can result in digestive issues including bloating, diarrhea and gas after consuming milk products. —

Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023 At least one of the 40 total bottles has been consumed, according to Sotheby’s. —

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Shifting sensory environments Changing temperatures shift the energy balance of ecosystems – from plants that produce energy from sunlight to the animals that consume plants and other animals – subsequently altering the sensory worlds that animals experience. —

Sean O'Donnell, Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2023 Ultimately, what matters more is the dose consumed. —

Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023 This was a detailed problem, one that could easily consume the better part of an evening. —

James Somers, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

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

See more words from the same century