consummate

adjective con·sum·mate \ ˈkän(t)-sə-mət , kən-ˈsə-mət \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: consummate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Are You Using consummate Correctly?

Definition of consummate

1 : extremely skilled and accomplished

a consummate liar

a consummate professional

2 : of the highest degree

consummate skill

consummate cruelty

3 : complete in every detail : perfect

a consummate model of a clipper ship

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consummately

adverb

See consummate defined for English-language learners

See consummate defined for kids

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Examples of consummate in a Sentence

… Berg, the consummate schmoozer, was the perfect spy for the job. —Dick Teresi, New York Times Book Review, 24 July 1994
To thrive in science, you must be both a consummate collaborator and a relentless competitor. —Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 1988
The rest of his life (he lived for a few more years) was one great consummate silence. —R. K. Narayan, "Under the Banyan Tree," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
"How dare you!" Natalie screamed, in consummate frustration … —Joseph Wambaugh, The Black Marble, l978
He plays the piano with consummate skill.
consummate cabinetmakers, they produced desks and chests of drawers that are now regarded as masterpieces of American furniture

Recent Examples of consummate from the Web

Jon Kimura Parker tackled the daunting piano part with consummate technical skill.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "BSO, Alsop wrap up season with meaty American, Russian program," 8 June 2018
Lewis deserved his reputation as the consummate student and historian of the Mideast, earning respect from both Arab and non-Arab followers for the deep understandings conveyed in his writings.

— WSJ, "Bernard Lewis: First-Rate Scholar and Wise Adviser," 28 May 2018
Jean will be remembered fondly as the consummate hostess filling her home with warmth and laughter.

— courant.com, "Jean Martino," 27 May 2018
Cano was trending toward becoming one of the few current players with a chance to reach 3,000 hits in his career and has been a consummate defensive standout.

— tim booth, Houston Chronicle, "Seattle Mariners' Cano suspended 80 games for drug violation," 15 May 2018
Now, after playing and singing for a staggering 56 years, the consummate singer, songwriter and interpreter of songs has settled into a comfortable place.

— michael sangiacomo, cleveland.com, "Tom Rush, the master of cool, glides into the Kent Stage Friday," 2 May 2018
These shoots involve numerous mind-numbing takes of the same action, but Earnhardt was the consummate professional through the four hours.

— mike hembree, USA TODAY, "Retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. ready for next phase of his life and career," 1 May 2018
DeGeneres, a consummate house remodeler, recently launched the ED Ellen DeGeneres bedding collection for Bed Bath & Beyond, featuring six bedding patterns ranging from geometric prints to botanicals and washed textures.

— kelsey kloss, ELLE Decor, "Ellen DeGeneres Added A Bedding Collection To Her Lifestyle Brand," 20 May 2016
Of the many sources of Monroe’s anxiety, her role as country music’s consummate underdog is not one of them.

— jon bernstein, GQ, "Ashley Monroe Is the Beating Heart of Old-School Country," 8 May 2018

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

Are You Using consummate Correctly?

Consummate, which derives from the Latin verb consummare (meaning "to sum up" or "to finish"), has been used as an adjective in English since the 15th century. Some usage commentators feel the word is overused and others think it should be limited to the "perfect" sense (as in "a consummate little model of a clipper ship"), but neither of those positions is more than an opinion. All of the senses of the word are well-established and have served careful writers well for many, many years.

Origin and Etymology of consummate

Middle English consummat fulfilled, from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare to sum up, finish, from com- + summa sum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

consummate Synonyms

consummate

verb con·sum·mate \ ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt \

Definition of consummate

consummated; consummating

transitive verb

1 : to make (marital union) complete by sexual intercourse

consummate a marriage

2 a : finish, complete

consummate a business deal

b : to make perfect

c : achieve

… his desire of consummating victory and revenge made him cautious …
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

intransitive verb

: to become perfected

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consummative

play \ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmā-tiv, kən-ˈsə-mə-tiv\ adjective

—

consummator

play \ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt-ər\ noun

See consummate defined for English-language learners

Examples of consummate in a Sentence

In part she had loved him for that, loved the tender understanding with which he had acquiesced to her wish not to consummate their relationship out of wedlock. —Dorothy West, The Wedding, 1995
Once the sale was consummated, a thorough housecleaning took place in the advertising department … —Brendan Gill, New York Times Book Review, 4 Oct. 1987
By prolonging the suspense and terror, he was needlessly delaying the reconciliation he himself was yearning so dearly to consummate. —Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984
The bargaining process went on for a few days, but the deal was never consummated.
Their happiness was consummated when their son was born.

Recent Examples of consummate from the Web

Her characters wear their vulnerabilities, hatreds, and desires on their sleeves (in an emblematic departure from Strindberg, John and Mies Julie consummate their love center stage atop the kitchen table, rather than in John's offstage bedroom).

— justin hayford, Chicago Reader, "Mies Julie depicts a postapartheid South Africa still mired in its legacy of colonialism and racism," 6 June 2018
So, too, in many ways does the generation of Orioles baseball during which it was consummated.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Six years after no-regrets early extension with Adam Jones, Orioles have yet to return to that well," 26 May 2018
Then, when bad weather forced them to dawdle in Calais for two weeks while their Channel crossing was delayed, Anne and Henry took a Fornication Vacation and finally consummated their love.

— anne thériault, Longreads, "Queens of Infamy: Anne Boleyn," 25 May 2018
Florence and her husband of only a few hours, Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle), have traveled to a seaside hotel to consummate their union.

— refinery29.com, "On Chesil Beach Review: Can You Have Love Without Sex?," 16 May 2018
No person shall deliver a firearm to another person to consummate a sale when the transaction is subject to the waiting period until the seller has complied with all of the provisions requiring a criminal history check of the prospective buyer.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orange County aims to close gun-law 'loophole,' require background checks," 8 May 2018
On the morning of June 4, 2010, the day that the deal was supposed to be consummated, Chris sent a cautionary e-mail to his attorney.

— james vlahos, GQ, "The Mystery of the Killer Vacation," 18 Apr. 2018
President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S would seek to reimpose sanctions left little hope that the planemaking duopolists will be able to consummate $40 billion in aircraft deals struck by Iranian carriers during the brief trade thaw.

— Fortune, "Trump's Iran Deal Exit Halts Historic, $40 Billion Boeing, Airbus Deals," 8 May 2018
In the two years since the deal was consummated, the company has repeatedly missed sales goals.

— sharon terlep, WSJ, "A Megadeal Joined Sharpie Markers and Crock-Pots. What Could Go Wrong? A Lot," 2 May 2018