consume
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to undergo destruction; waste away.
-
to use or use up consumer goods.
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
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(tr) to waste or squander
the time consumed on that project was excessive
-
(passive) to waste away
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.
Almost a fifth of the petroleum consumed around the world each day flows through the deep channel between Iran and Oman, much of it from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab producers.
When a person consumes about 20 mg of caffeine, such as from coffee, chocolate, or soda, it causes the nanobody and its partner protein to bind together.
From Science Daily
Archaea that consume methylamines, along with certain bacteria that may have acquired the same ability, play an important role in human health.
From Science Daily
Because vegetarians and vegans avoid animal products, they naturally consume less methionine and cysteine than people who regularly eat meat.
From Science Daily
Don’t miss: Yes, consumers in China are consuming again.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
