# consuming

/kənˈsumɪŋ/ (US) · /kənsˈuːmɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. taking all your attention

adjective · CEFR B2

taking up all of your time, energy, or interest.

For teachers: occupying one's full attention or interest; often used to describe intense passions or demanding tasks.

- His passion for chess became a consuming hobby that took up every weekend.
- The project became an all-consuming endeavour, requiring the team to sacrifice their personal time for several months to meet the deadline.

### 2. eating or using

verb · CEFR B2

the act of eating, drinking, or using up a resource.

For teachers: the present participle of 'consume', referring to the ingestion of food or the depletion of resources.

- The car is consuming too much fuel on long trips.
- By consuming vast quantities of raw materials, the factory managed to double its output within a single fiscal quarter.

### 3. the process of using

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the process of using something or the amount used.

For teachers: the gerund form used to denote the process or act of consumption.

- The consuming of natural resources must be managed carefully for the future.
- The rapid consuming of digital content has fundamentally altered how traditional media companies approach their distribution strategies.

## Examples

- The new car is consuming too much fuel.
- The fire was consuming the dry wood at an alarming rate before the rain started.
- A deep sense of guilt was consuming him, making it nearly impossible to focus on his professional responsibilities or maintain his social life.

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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.