consult
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to ask a person with special knowledge for their advice or opinion.
v.to seek information or advice from a person with professional expertise.
Simple“You should consult a lawyer before you sign any legal documents.”
In context“The government decided to consult several independent economists before implementing the new tax policy to ensure it would not harm small businesses.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to look at a book, map, or website to find a specific fact.
v.to refer to a source of information for the purpose of ascertaining a fact.
Simple“He had to consult the map several times to find the small village.”
In context“The researchers had to consult the original archives to verify the dates mentioned in the historical biography.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to work as a professional expert who gives advice to companies.
v.to provide professional or expert advice, typically as an external contractor rather than a full-time employee.
Simple“After leaving her job at the bank, she began to consult for international tech firms.”
In context“He spent the final decade of his career consulting for various non-profit organisations on sustainable development strategies.”
UsageOften used as an intransitive verb or in the present participle 'consulting'.
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to think about someone's feelings or interests before you act.
v.to have regard for or consider someone's interests, feelings, or convenience when making a decision.
Simple“The manager failed to consult his team's wishes before changing the office hours.”
In context“In designing the new park, the architects were careful to consult the needs of the local elderly population.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a meeting with a doctor to get medical advice.
n.a professional visit or appointment to seek advice, specifically in a medical context.
Simple“The doctor charged fifty dollars for the initial consult at the clinic.”
In context“Following the initial consult, the specialist recommended a series of diagnostic tests to rule out any underlying neurological conditions.”
UsageCommonly used in American English where British English would prefer 'consultation'.
Synonyms
Usage consult own shares
“An independent doctor, his GP, and a health and safety company were consulted.”
“Always consult information provided by officials and follow instructions.”
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.
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.