Consume — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kən-ˈsüm/ con·sume

Meaning & Definition of Consume

Consume (verb)

  1. to do away with completely, destroy
  2. to spend wastefully, squander
  3. use up

Consume (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to destroy all trace of

    "massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest"

    similar: devour, eat (up)
    related: gut, deplete, drain, exhaust, expend, spend, use up, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, waste, wreck, blot out, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, obliterate, remove, rub out, stamp (out), wipe out
    near: conserve, preserve, protect, save, build, construct, erect, put up, raise

  2. to make complete use of

    "the mining company consumed all of the local mineral resources and then moved on"

    similar: absorb, burn, deplete, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, run out of
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce, eat, use, bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish, cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken, dry up, empty, blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste
    opposite: renew, replace
    near: augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save

  3. to take in as food

    "hungry enough to consume most of the pie"

    similar: eat, ingest, partake (of), put away, put down, tuck (away or in)
    related: digest, down, mouth (down), swallow, bolt, chow (down on), devour, glut (on), gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scoff, slop, snarf (down), swill, wolf, chew, gnaw (at or on), gum, lap, lick, nibble (on), nurse, pick (at), relish, savor, taste, banquet, dine, fare, feast, gormandize, pig out, regale, dispatch, polish off, breakfast, lunch, sup, munch, nosh, snack

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Consume

The most common words with a similar meaning to Consume:

devour, eat (up), absorb, burn, deplete, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, eat, ingest, partake (of), put away, put down, tuck (away or in), run out of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Consume

Words with the opposite meaning of Consume:

renew, replace

Related Words for Consume

gut, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, waste, wreck, blot out, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, obliterate, remove, rub out, stamp (out), wipe out, abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize

Near Antonyms of Consume

conserve, preserve, protect, save, build, construct, erect, put up, raise, augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive

Word Forms of Consume

Inflections: consumed, consuming

Origin & Etymology of Consume

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 sub-, redeem

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Consume

Frequently Asked Questions about Consume

What does "Consume" mean?

"Consume" means to do away with completely, destroy. As a verb, it is defined as: to do away with completely, destroy. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Consume"?

Other words for "Consume" include devour, eat (up), absorb, burn, deplete, drain, draw down and exhaust. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Consume" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Consume"?

There are 116 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Consume". Common alternatives include devour, eat (up), absorb, burn, deplete, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend and play out.

What is the opposite of "Consume"?

Antonyms of "Consume" include renew and replace. Near antonyms include conserve, preserve, protect and save.

How do you use "Consume" in a sentence?

Examples of "Consume" in a sentence: "massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest"; "the mining company consumed all of the local mineral resources and then moved on"; "hungry enough to consume most of the pie".

Is "Consume" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Consume" is a verb.

Is "Consume" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Consume" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Consume"?

"Consume" is pronounced /kən-ˈsüm/ and divided into syllables as con·sume.