consume
verbUK /kənˈsjuːm/ · US /kənˈsum/
Etymology From Middle English consumen, from Old French consumer, from Latin cōnsūmere, cōnsūmō, from con- (“with, together”) + sūmō (“take; consume”), from sub- + emō (“to buy, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- (“to take, distribute”), possibly related to the root *nem- (“to take or give one's due”).
7 senses
1
To use up.
- The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
2
To eat.
- Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
- Concerns were raised around the ability of Milky Way species to consume proteins from Andromeda, so seed banks formed a significant part of the arks' cargo. We now know it is safe to consume food grown or hunted here, though enzyme supplements are recommended and have become a social norm at mealtimes.2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Andromeda Wildlife: Overview Codex entry:
3
To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.
- Desire consumed him.
4
To destroy completely.
- The building was consumed by fire.
- If he were putting to my house the brand / That shall consume it.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
1 more example
- Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through to steal: […]1900, The New Covenant Commonly Called the New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (American Standard Version), New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Matthew 6:19–20:
5
Obsolete To waste away slowly.
- Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs.1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
- But, sir, you see how weak I am. You must see that I have been consuming from day to day […].1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CDXLI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
1 more example
- He assured her the child was consuming at that moment in the next room.1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:
6
Economics, Sciences To trade money for good or services as an individual.
- In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.
- If you consume this product while in Japan, you may be subject to consumption tax.
7
To absorb information, especially through the mass media.
- The Internet has changed the way we consume news.
- And influencers are identifying the brands, music, and TV shows that Americans consume.2026 March 9, Cyrus Veyssi, “In Defense of Influencers”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2026:
- Synonyms
- burn, use, use up, expend, devour, eat, swallow, occupy, overcome, take over, annihilate, destroy, devastate, eliminate, obliterate, raze, wipe out
- Derived terms
- all-consuming, consoomer, consumable, consumation, consumeless, consumer, misconsume, overconsume, preconsume, reconsume, unconsumable, underconsume
- Related terms
- consumption, consumptive