consult

verb

/kənˈsʌlt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they consult	/kənˈsʌlt/ /kənˈsʌlt/
he / she / it consults	/kənˈsʌlts/ /kənˈsʌlts/
past simple consulted	/kənˈsʌltɪd/ /kənˈsʌltɪd/
past participle consulted	/kənˈsʌltɪd/ /kənˈsʌltɪd/
-ing form consulting	/kənˈsʌltɪŋ/ /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] to go to somebody for information or advice
- consult somebody If the pain continues, consult your doctor.
- consult somebody about something Have you consulted your lawyer about this?
- a consulting engineer (= one who has expert knowledge and gives advice)
- (North American English) consult with somebody (about/on something) Consult with your physician about possible treatments.
Extra Examples
- I need to consult my teacher about changing my course.
- If the pain persists you should consult your doctor.
Topics Suggestions and adviceb2, Medicineb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- widely
- closely
- frequently
- …
verb + consult
- need to
- should
preposition
- about
- with
See full entry
[transitive, intransitive] to discuss something with somebody to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision
- consult somebody You shouldn't have done it without consulting me.
- consult somebody about/on something I expect to be consulted about major issues.
- consult (with somebody) (about/on something) I need to consult with my colleagues on the proposals.
- We consulted quite widely before deciding what to do.
Synonyms talk
talk
- discuss
- speak
- communicate
- debate
- consult
These words all mean to share news, information, ideas or feelings with another person or other people, especially by talking with them.
- talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas:
  We talked on the phone for over an hour.
- discuss (rather formal) to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide something:
  Have you discussed the problem with anyone?
  You cannot say ‘discuss about something’: I’m not prepared to discuss about this on the phone.
- speak to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody:
  I’ve spoken to the manager about it.
  ‘Can I speak to Susan?’ ‘Speaking.’ (= at the beginning of a phone conversation)
talk or speak?Speak can suggest a more formal level of communication than talk. You speak to somebody about something to try to achieve a particular goal or to tell them to do something. You talk to somebody in order to be friendly or to ask their advice: Have you talked to your parents about the problems you’re having? • I’ve spoken to Ed about it and he’s promised not to let it happen again.
- communicate (rather formal) to exchange information or ideas with somebody:
  We only communicate by email.
  Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other.
  Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used.
- debate to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution:
  Politicians will be debating the bill later this week.
- consult (rather formal) to discuss something with somebody in order to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision:
  You shouldn’t have done it without consulting me.
Patterns
- to talk/discuss something/speak/communicate/debate/consult with somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody/consult somebody about something
- to talk/speak of something
Extra Examples
- We are consulting closely with our partners and allies.
- They felt they had not been adequately consulted.
Topics Preferences and decisionsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- widely
- closely
- frequently
- …
verb + consult
- need to
- should
preposition
- about
- with
See full entry
[transitive] consult something to look in or at something to get information synonym refer to
- He consulted the manual.
- If you're not sure which plug to buy, consult the manual.

Word Originearly 16th cent. (in the sense ‘confer’): from French consulter, from Latin consultare, frequentative of consulere ‘take counsel’.