What does "consult" mean?

1. (to ask an expert) to ask a person with special knowledge for their advice or opinion. 2. (to look for information) to look at a book, map, or website to find a specific fact. 3. (to work as an advisor) to work as a professional expert who gives advice to companies. 4. (to consider feelings) to think about someone's feelings or interests before you act. 5. (a medical visit) a meeting with a doctor to get medical advice.

How do you use "consult"?

Often used as an intransitive verb or in the present participle 'consulting'. Commonly used in American English where British English would prefer 'consultation'.

consult

v. · n.

US //kənˈsəɫt// con·sult

1 to ask an expert (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to ask a person with special knowledge for their advice or opinion.

to seek information or advice from a person with professional expertise.

Example

You should consult a lawyer before you sign any legal documents.

Example

The government decided to consult several independent economists before implementing the new tax policy to ensure it would not harm small businesses.
- ask
- seek advice
- confer
- ignore
- disregard
2 to look for information (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to look at a book, map, or website to find a specific fact.

to refer to a source of information for the purpose of ascertaining a fact.

Example

He had to consult the map several times to find the small village.

Example

The researchers had to consult the original archives to verify the dates mentioned in the historical biography.
- refer to
- check
- look up

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3 to work as an advisor (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to work as a professional expert who gives advice to companies.

to provide professional or expert advice, typically as an external contractor rather than a full-time employee.

Example

After leaving her job at the bank, she began to consult for international tech firms.

Example

He spent the final decade of his career consulting for various non-profit organisations on sustainable development strategies.

Usage

Often used as an intransitive verb or in the present participle 'consulting'.
- advise
4 to consider feelings (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to think about someone's feelings or interests before you act.

to have regard for or consider someone's interests, feelings, or convenience when making a decision.

Example

The manager failed to consult his team's wishes before changing the office hours.

Example

In designing the new park, the architects were careful to consult the needs of the local elderly population.
- consider
- regard
- neglect
5 a medical visit (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate American English Medicine

a meeting with a doctor to get medical advice.

a professional visit or appointment to seek advice, specifically in a medical context.

Example

The doctor charged fifty dollars for the initial consult at the clinic.

Example

Following the initial consult, the specialist recommended a series of diagnostic tests to rule out any underlying neurological conditions.

Usage

Commonly used in American English where British English would prefer 'consultation'.
- appointment
- consultation

Etymology 1

From Middle French consulte. In sense “council”, it represents Latin cōnsultum, Italian consulto; and it may have been often taken as a direct formation from the verb.

Etymology 2

From Middle French consulter, from Latin cōnsultō (“to deliberate, consult”), frequentative of cōnsulō (“to consult, deliberate, consider, reflect upon, ask advice”), from com- (“together”) + -sulō, from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁- (“to take, grab”).

Word family

Verbconsult
Nounconsultancy
Adjectiveconsultative