consume
verb OPAL W
/kənˈsjuːm/
/kənˈsuːm/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they consume | /kənˈsjuːm/ /kənˈsuːm/ |
| he / she / it consumes | /kənˈsjuːmz/ /kənˈsuːmz/ |
| past simple consumed | /kənˈsjuːmd/ /kənˈsuːmd/ |
| past participle consumed | /kənˈsjuːmd/ /kənˈsuːmd/ |
| -ing form consuming | /kənˈsjuːmɪŋ/ /kənˈsuːmɪŋ/ |
- consume something to use something, especially fuel, energy or time
- The electricity industry consumes large amounts of fossil fuels.
- 25 per cent of the world’s population consumes 80 per cent of the planet’s resources.
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmentb1- Bureaucracy consumes money that could have been spent on public services.
- My new car consumes much less fuel.
- Paperwork consumes time which could be better used getting on with the job itself.
- The production of new paper from wood pulp consumes vast amounts of energy.
- consume something (formal) to eat or drink something
- Before he died, he had consumed a large quantity of alcohol.
- a half-consumed loaf of bread
- Red meat should be consumed in moderation.
- [often passive] (formal) to fill somebody with a strong feeling
- be consumed with something Carolyn was consumed with guilt.
- consume somebody Rage consumed him.
- consume something (formal) (of fire) to completely destroy something
- The hotel was quickly consumed by fire.
see also all-consuming, consuming, consumption, time-consuming
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin consumere, from con- ‘altogether’ + sumere ‘take up’; reinforced by French consumer.