consist

1 of 2

verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
consisted; consisting; consists

intransitive verb

1
: lie, reside
usually used with in
Liberty consists in the absence of obstructions …A. E. Housman
"In her consists my happiness … "William Shakespeare
2
archaic
a
: exist, be
b
: to be capable of existing
3
: to be composed or made up
usually used with of
Breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit.
The team consists of five players.
4
: to be consistent
it consists with the facts

consist

2 of 2

noun

con·​sist ˈkän-ˌsist How to pronounce consist (audio)
: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb that account consists with the information in the other reports
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The program will consist primarily of sacred compositions by Benjamin Britten, Antonio Vivaldi, Edwin Fissinger and Caroline Shaw, in contemporary arrangements with lyrics in French, Latin, German and English. Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 7 Dec. 2024 In 2003, a new McNuggets recipe, consisting only of white meat chicken, was released, McDonald's said. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
The detectors at the observatory consist, in essence, of spinning polarizer filters. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 3 June 2024 The most basic consist of mounded earth. Thomas Page, CNN, 18 July 2022 See all Example Sentences for consist 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French consister "to lie, reside (in), stay permanently, comprise," borrowed from Latin consistere "to stop moving, come to a halt, remain at the same level, take up a position, reside, be composed (of), be established (in a given state), come into existence," from con- con- + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt" — more at assist entry 1

Noun

derivative of consist entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consist was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near consist

Cite this Entry

“Consist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consist. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

consist

verb
con·​sist
kən-ˈsist
: to be made up or composed
breakfast consisted of cereal, milk, and fruit
coal consists mostly of carbon

More from Merriam-Webster on consist

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