consist

1 of 2

verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist 

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 

: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Synonyms of consist

Verb

• correspond
• coincide
• conform

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb

that account consists with the information in the other reports

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Research on bilingualism has found differences in both the brain’s gray matter, which contains neurons and their connections, and white matter, which consists largely of nerve fibers linking different parts of the brain. — Karen Stollznow, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

To maintain eligibility, households consisting entirely of full-time students may be required to provide documentation to their property manager demonstrating that at least one of the above exceptions is met. — Olivia Young, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

His Together, Together Tour, which in 2026 consisted mostly of extended runs in a handful of cities, will continue into the spring and summer of 2027, as a true road show, with fewer dates and more locales. — Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

The plane's cargo weighed 32,222 pounds and consisted primarily of contact lenses. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing consist

• consist in
• consist of

Rhymes for consist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

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