consist

[ verb kuhn-sist; noun kon-sist ]

verb (used without object)

1. to be made up or composed (usually followed by of ):

   This cake consists mainly of sugar, flour, and butter.

2. to be comprised or contained (usually followed by in ):

   Her charm does not consist only in her beauty.

3. Archaic. to exist together or be capable of existing together.
4. Obsolete. to insist; urge.

noun

1. Railroads.
   1. the rolling stock, exclusive of the locomotive, making up a train.
   2. a record made of this rolling stock.

consist

/ kənˈsɪst /

verb

1. foll by of to be composed (of); be formed (of)

   syrup consists of sugar and water

2. foll byin or of to have its existence (in); lie (in); be expressed (by)

   his religion consists only in going to church

3. to be compatible or consistent; accord

Word History and Origins

Origin of consist¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin consistere “to stand together, stand firm,” from con- con- + sistere “to stand, cause to stand”; stand, stasis, status

Word History and Origins

Origin of consist¹

C16: from Latin consistere to halt, stand firm, from sistere to stand, cause to stand; related to stāre to stand

Example Sentences

The production took place at the back of a restaurant in Brooklyn, and the audience consisted of maybe a dozen people.

From Los Angeles Times

His war council, and his concubine pit, consists of a crew of mannequins.

From Salon

Catamarans consist of two parallel hulls connected by a single deck, and range from lightweight boats used in Olympic sailing, to huge passenger ferries.

From BBC

Within the States, in particular, the cuisine has garnered an erroneous reputation for solely consisting of just curries or meals saturated with oil.

From Salon

King argued that Sophy’s proof of emotional distress “consists entirely of invoking the racist caricature that depicts Black men, like Young, as inherently violent.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dwell
• subsist