consolidate

verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt 

consolidated; consolidating

transitive verb

1

: to join together into one whole : unite

consolidate several small school districts

2

: to make firm or secure : strengthen

consolidate their hold on first place

He consolidated his position as head of the political party.

3

: to form into a compact mass

The press consolidates the fibers into board.

intransitive verb

: to become consolidated

specifically : merge

The two companies consolidated.

consolidator

kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• center
• centralize
• compact
• concenter
• concentrate
• polarize
• unify
• unite

Examples of consolidate in a Sentence

The two funds will consolidate into one.

The administration hopes that such measures will consolidate its position.

Rebel forces have consolidated their hold on the region.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the phone carrier consolidated, Stankey rose through the ranks and ran parts of SBC Southwestern Bell. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024

That's one reason providers have been consolidating. —Sally Pipes, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Efforts to eliminate or consolidate units of government have largely failed for a century, thanks in part to politicians’ instinct for self preservation, but also a fear, particularly among many in rural downstate areas, of losing their civic identity. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2024

Sintering struck me as a fine metaphor for our trip, which was already strengthening and consolidating our newly smaller family. —Sarah Manguso, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin consolidatus, past participle of consolidare to make solid, from com- + solidus solid

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

consolidate

verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsäl-ə-ˌdāt 

consolidated; consolidating

1

: to join together into one whole : unite

2

: to make firm or safe : strengthen

consolidate a beachhead

consolidation

kən-ˌsäl-ə-ˈdā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

consolidate

transitive verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt 

consolidated; consolidating

: to join together into one whole: as

a

: to combine (two or more lawsuits or matters that involve a common question of law or fact) into one compare class action

Note: Consolidation of matters in the federal courts is governed by Rule 42 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Consolidated cases may become one single action with a single judgment, or may retain their individual identities although tried together. The court may also try one representative case and render a judgment binding on the other cases.

b

: to combine (two or more corporations) to form one new corporation compare merger

consolidation

kən-ˌsä-lə-ˈdā-shən 

noun