console

1 of 2

noun

con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl 

1

: an architectural member projecting from a wall to form a bracket or from a keystone for ornament

2

: console table

3

a

: an upright case that houses the keyboards and controlling mechanisms of an organ and from which the organ is played

b

: a combination of readouts or displays and an input device (such as a keyboard or switches) by which an operator can monitor and interact with a system (such as a computer or dubber)

4

a

: a cabinet (as for a radio or television set) designed to rest directly on the floor

b

: a small storage cabinet between bucket seats in an automobile

5

: an electronic system that connects to a display (such as a television set) and is used primarily to play video games

console

2 of 2

verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl 

consoled; consoling

transitive verb

: to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of : comfort

console a widow

I consoled myself with the thought that things could be much worse.

consoler noun

plural consolers

He was a tactful consoler and capable of great generosity to people in trouble.

—Ferdinand Mount

consolingly

kən-ˈsō-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• buffet
• cabinet
• closet
• cupboard
• hutch
• locker
• press
• sideboard

Verb

• assure
• cheer
• comfort
• reassure
• solace
• soothe

Examples of console in a Sentence

Noun

a custom-built walnut console holds all of their home-theater components

Verb

Nothing could console her after his death.

the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The console is composed of maple wood and features two glass sliding doors. —Priscilla Ward, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2024

In the center of Rocky’s Moncler Genius space in Shanghai, fashioned like a spaceship with projections on the walls and silver furniture, sat a modular (duh) console created under his Hommemade homeware label. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2024

Verb

As her assistant tries to console her, Mowry shares that her grandmother died of cancer five years ago and her aunt died of cancer one year ago. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Harris attempted to counter Trump’s attacks by participating in a Univision town hall last week, when a breakout moment came as the vice president consoled a woman whose mother died without achieving legal status in the United States. —Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

Verb

French consoler, from Latin consolari, from com- + solari to console

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1673, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing console

• console table

Kids Definition

console

1 of 2 noun

con·​sole ˈkän-ˌsōl 

1

a

: the part of an organ at which the organist sits and which contains the keyboard and controls

b

: a panel or cabinet with dials and switches for controlling an electronic or mechanical device

2

: a cabinet (as for a phonograph or television set) that stands on the floor

3

: an electronic system that connects to a display (as a TV set) and is used to play video games

console

2 of 2 verb

con·​sole kən-ˈsōl 

consoled; consoling

: to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering