consist

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verb

con·​sist kən-ˈsist 

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

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noun

con·​sist ˈkän-ˌsist 

: makeup or composition (as of coal sizes or a railroad train) by classes, types, or grades and arrangement

Synonyms

Verb

• accord
• agree
• answer
• check
• chord
• cohere
• coincide
• comport
• conform
• correspond
• dovetail
• fit
• go
• harmonize
• jibe
• rhyme
• rime
• sort
• square
• tally

Examples of consist in a Sentence

Verb

that account consists with the information in the other reports

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her costumes aren’t particularly notable, consisting mostly of plain suits and overcoats in a story where the flashy outfits go to characters like the Joker. —Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

The song itself is dark and atmospheric, consisting mostly of drone, piano, and Cain’s ethereal voice. —James Factora, Them, 1 Nov. 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

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

Phrases Containing consist

• consist in
• consist of

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