# consist

/kənˈsɪst/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consist
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to be made of

verb · CEFR B1 · General-service

to be made of or formed from specific things or people.

For teachers: to be composed or made up of specific parts or members; almost always used with the preposition 'of'.

- The breakfast menu consists of fresh fruit, cereal, and coffee.
- The research committee consists of five senior faculty members and two student representatives who meet monthly to review proposals.

Usage: Always used with the preposition 'of' when describing components.

### 2. to lie or reside in

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to have something as its main part or reason.

For teachers: to have a specified thing as its essential nature or foundation; typically used with the preposition 'in'.

- True happiness consists in being satisfied with what you already have.
- The beauty of the poem consists in its simple language and the powerful emotions it evokes without being overly dramatic.

Usage: Used with the preposition 'in' to describe an abstract quality or essence.

### 3. a train lineup

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English

a group of train cars that are connected together.

For teachers: the group of rail vehicles, including locomotives and cars, that make up a specific train.

- The engineer checked the consist to make sure all the freight cars were attached.
- The heavy-haul consist included four diesel locomotives and over one hundred coal wagons destined for the coastal terminal.

Usage: The stress is typically on the first syllable (CON-sist) when used as a noun.

## Examples

- The breakfast menu should consist of fruit, eggs, and toast.
- The final exam will consist of fifty multiple-choice questions and one short essay.
- The atmosphere of the planet is thought to consist primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, with trace amounts of argon and carbon dioxide detected by the probe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.