consume

verb

con·​sume kən-ˈsüm 

consumed; consuming

transitive verb

1

: to do away with completely : destroy

Fire consumed several buildings.

2

a

: to spend wastefully : squander

consumed his inheritance on luxuries

b

: use up

Writing consumed much of his time.

3

a

: to eat or drink especially in great quantity

consumed several bags of pretzels

b

: to enjoy avidly : devour

… mysteries, which she consumes for fun …

—Eden Ross Lipson

4

: to engage fully : engross

consumed with curiosity

5

: to utilize as a customer

consume goods and services

intransitive verb

1

: to waste or burn away : perish

2

: to utilize economic goods

Synonyms

• devour
• eat (up)

Examples of consume in a Sentence

The new lights consume less electricity.

She's making an effort to live more simply and consume less.

Hundreds of books were consumed in the fire.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the arduous process, which can often feel like a full-time job, has begun to consume their lives and take a hefty mental toll. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

While the florets are most commonly consumed, the stalks are also edible and offer a mildly sweet taste. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025

Be sure to consume a healthy diet rich in protein, healthy fats and fruit and vegetables. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 7 Feb. 2025

Of course, the scenario is far from everyday: Elektra is consumed by the desire for bloody revenge against her mother, who with her lover Aegisthus (Greg Hicks) murdered her husband Agamemnon on his return from Troy. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French consumer, from Latin consumere, from com- + sumere to take up, take, from sub- up + emere to take — more at sub-, redeem

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

consume

verb

con·​sume kən-ˈsüm 

consumed; consuming

1

: to destroy by or as if by fire

2

: use up, spend

the search consumed most of our time

3

: to eat or drink up

consumed too much ice cream

4

: to take up the interest or attention of

was consumed with curiosity

5

: to use as a customer

consume goods

consumable

-ˈsü-mə-bəl

adjective