Synonyms

consume

American

[kuhn-soom] / kənˈsum /

verb (used with object)

consumed, consuming

to destroy or expend by use; use up.

Synonyms:

deplete, exhaust
to eat or drink up; devour.
to destroy, as by decomposition or burning.

Fire consumed the forest.
to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

Synonyms:

dissipate, squander
to absorb; engross.

consumed with curiosity.

verb (used without object)

consumed, consuming

to undergo destruction; waste away.
to use or use up consumer goods.

consume British

/ kənˈsjuːm /

verb

(tr) to eat or drink
(tr; often passive) to engross or obsess
(tr) to use up; expend

my car consumes little oil
to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc

fire consumed the forest
(tr) to waste or squander

the time consumed on that project was excessive
(passive) to waste away

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

consuming adjective
consumingly adverb
half-consumed adjective
overconsume verb
preconsume verb (used with object)
unconsumed adjective
underconsume verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of consume

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French consumer, from Latin consūmere, from con- con- + sūmere “to take up” (equivalent to subs-, variant of sub- sub- + emere “to take, buy”; emptor ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Scientists found that consuming caffeine at night can increase impulsive behavior, raising the likelihood of risky or uncontrolled actions.

From Science Daily

Just last week, Anthropic introduced peak-hour throttling of its services on Claude, meaning that tokens will get consumed more quickly when demand for the service is higher.

From BBC

Some cichlids evolved into predators, while others specialized in feeding on algae, sifting sand, or consuming plankton.

From Science Daily

However, anisakids, also called "sushi worms" or "sushi parasites," can cause illness if consumed alive in raw or undercooked seafood.

From Science Daily

Although many foods naturally contain sodium, most people consume the majority of it through processed foods, packaged items, and restaurant meals.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023