consist

1 of 2

verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
consisted; consisting; consists

intransitive verb

1
: lie, reside
usually used with in
Liberty consists in the absence of obstructions …A. E. Housman
"In her consists my happiness … "William Shakespeare
2
archaic
a
: exist, be
b
: to be capable of existing
3
: to be composed or made up
usually used with of
Breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit.
The team consists of five players.
4
: to be consistent
it consists with the facts

consist

2 of 2

noun

con·​sist ˈkän-ˌsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb that account consists with the information in the other reports
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The liquid rocket fuel consists rocket-grade kerosene combined with liquid oxygen. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024 The petroglyphs on the site consist primarily of circular patterns, but several look very much like the tridactyl dinosaur tracks also present on the site. Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024 While your wardrobe might consist primarily of jeans and tees, simple, flowy dresses are an even more low-lift option for spring. Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Vallejo’s testimony to Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise on Monday consisted entirely of his recollection interviewing the defendants as the case’s lead investigator. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 That committee consists primarily of students, with some district staff and one university expert, and the school’s principal participated in its meetings to provide feedback and answer questions, district officials said. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 As of November 2021, the Workers Chorus consisted exclusively of Black cast members. Jack Greiner, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 The sports schedule will not consist only of simulcasts of NHL, MLB and NBA matchups that typically turn up on the company’s flagship TBS and TNT cable networks. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The group’s repertoire consists mostly of songs that date back 200 to 400 years and which invoke the names of living peoples’ actual relatives and ancestors. Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
Noun
The most basic consist of mounded earth. Thomas Page, CNN, 18 July 2022 Most of the unscheduled feedings (i.e. snacks and desserts) that Kenyan runners partake of consist of fresh fruit. Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 27 July 2015 Classified as Ourasphaira giraldae, the ancient microfungi consist of branching filaments attached to bulbous structures. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2019 The typical types of output today from generative AI consist of output that is purely text or that is pure art. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2022 But that ignores how much of the content on other platforms like Instagram and TikTok consist of Twitter screenshots! Ew Staff, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2022 These pillows consist of an organic cotton cover filled with buckwheat hulls that can be removed or added to adjust the height and level. Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023 The front and rear suspensions each consist of a rigid axle located by leaf springs. Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 5 Jan. 2023 By 2030, Porsche hopes to have more than 80 percent of its sales consist of EVs. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 13 Nov. 2022

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

Verb

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French consister "to lie, reside (in), stay permanently, comprise," borrowed from Latin consistere "to stop moving, come to a halt, remain at the same level, take up a position, reside, be composed (of), be established (in a given state), come into existence," from con- con- + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt" — more at assist entry 1

Noun

derivative of consist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consist was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near consist

Cite this Entry

“Consist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consist. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

consist

verb
con·​sist
kən-ˈsist
: to be made up or composed
breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit
coal consists mostly of carbon

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