console

¹ American  

[kuhn-sohl] / kənˈsoʊl /

verb (used with object)

consoled, consoling

1. to alleviate or lessen the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort.

   Even his children could not console him when his wife died.

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console ² American  

[kon-sohl] / ˈkɒn soʊl /

noun

1. Also called video game console.  Also called game(s) console,.  Also called gaming console,.  a computer system specially made for playing video games by connecting it to a television or other display for video and sound.

2. the control or monitoring unit of a computer, containing the keyboard or keys, switches, etc.

3. a television, phonograph, or radio cabinet designed to stand on the floor rather than on a table or shelf.

4. a desklike structure containing the keyboards, pedals, etc., by means of which an organ is played.

5. a small cabinet standing on the floor and having doors.

6. console table.

7. the control unit of a mechanical, electrical, or electronic system.

   the console that controls a theater's lighting system.

8. Architecture. an ornamental corbel or bracket, especially one high in relation to its projection.

9. Automotive. a tray or container typically divided into compartments, mounted between bucket seats, and used for storing small items.

10. Nautical. a unit on a vessel containing steering apparatus, systems monitoring equipment, etc..

    a bridge console, an engine-room console.

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console ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒnsəʊl /

noun

1. an ornamental bracket, esp one used to support a wall fixture, bust, etc

2. the part of an organ comprising the manuals, pedals, stops, etc

3. a unit on which the controls of an electronic system are mounted

4. same as games console

5. a cabinet for a television, gramophone, etc, designed to stand on the floor

6. See console table

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console ² British  

/ kənˈsəʊl /

verb

1. to serve as a source of comfort to (someone) in disappointment, loss, sadness, etc

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Synonym Usage

See comfort.

Other Word Forms

• consolable
  adjective
• consoler
  noun
• consolingly
  adverb
• inconsolable
  adjective
• unconsolable
  adjective
• unconsolably
  adverb
• unconsoled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of console¹

First recorded in 1685–95; either from French consoler or directly from Latin consōlārī, equivalent to con- con- + sōlārī “to soothe” ( see solace); perhaps akin to Old English sǣl “happiness” ( see seely)

Origin of console²

First recorded in 1700–10; from French; Middle French consolle “bracket, support,” apparently shortening of consolateur (attested in Middle French with same sense), literally, “one who consoles” (from Late Latin consōlātor; see console ¹ , -ator ), perhaps because such supports served as rests in choir stalls, etc.; cf. misericord

Explanation

Perhaps you avoid babysitting your baby brother because you're worried that if he starts to cry, you won’t be able to console him or make him feel better. Or maybe you just hate changing diapers. You usually try to console someone by providing encouragement and offering solace. Others try to console themselves with tubs of ice cream. From the Latin word consolari, meaning “to comfort,” the noun console can also describe a central control panel. In an automobile, the controls for both the radio and air-conditioning are in the same center console.

Example Sentences

Contreras estimated she’d spent about an hour over the last 2½ years playing her Xbox game console and hadn’t touched the Nintendo Switch her father gifted her for Christmas 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

CEO Tim Sweeney attributed the decision to a downturn in engagement coupled with industrywide challenges, such as rising component costs and lower console sales.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

Overall yearly spending on console games has more than doubled since GTA V came out, to nearly $40 billion estimated for this year.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Robotic surgery requires only very small incisions, which are possible thanks to the use of miniaturised cameras and instruments, controlled remotely by a surgeon, via the robotic system's console.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

There was no one who knew how to console me like my mom.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• assuage
• soothe