consume
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to use fuel, energy, or time.
to exhaust or expend a resource, such as fuel, energy, or time. Transitive in most contexts.
Simple“The old heater consumes a lot of electricity during the winter months.”
In context“Modern industrial processes consume vast quantities of water, leading to concerns about local resource management and sustainability.”
UsageOften used in technical or environmental discussions regarding energy and resources.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to eat or drink something.
to ingest food or drink. This sense carries a more formal or scientific register than 'eat'.
Simple“You should not consume too much sugar if you want to stay healthy.”
In context“The study monitored how much caffeine the participants consumed over a twenty-four-hour period to assess its impact on sleep quality.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to buy and use products or services.
to purchase and utilize goods and services within an economy.
Simple“People tend to consume more luxury goods when the economy is doing well.”
In context“Economists analyze how households consume and save in response to fluctuating interest rates and tax incentives.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
to have a feeling so strong that you cannot think about anything else.
to engross or obsess someone; to occupy a person's mind or interest completely. Often used in the passive voice.
Simple“He was consumed by guilt after he lied to his best friend.”
In context“She was so consumed by her research that she frequently forgot to eat or check her messages for days at a time.”
UsageCommonly follows the pattern 'be consumed by/with [emotion]'.
- 05 C1 Advanced
to destroy something completely, usually by fire.
to destroy or do away with completely, typically through the action of fire or natural forces.
Simple“The forest fire consumed thousands of trees in just a few hours.”
In context“The flames quickly consumed the abandoned warehouse, leaving nothing but a charred skeletal frame by the time the crews arrived.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
to read, watch, or listen to information and entertainment.
to absorb or take in information, especially through digital media or news outlets.
Simple“Many young people consume news through social media rather than television.”
In context“The way we consume digital content has shifted toward short-form video, significantly altering the advertising landscape.”
From Middle English consumen, from Old French consumer, from Latin cōnsūmere, cōnsūmō, from con- (“with, together”) + sūmō (“take; consume”), from sub- + emō (“to buy, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁em- (“to take, distribute”), possibly related to the root nem- (“to take or give one's due”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.