consume
/kənˈsum/ verb B1- To use up. · The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
- To eat. · Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
- To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of. · Desire consumed him.
- To destroy completely. · The building was consumed by fire.
- To obtain and use goods or services as an individual. · In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.· If you consume this product while in Japan, you may be subject to consumption tax.
- To absorb information, especially through the mass media. · The Internet has changed the way we consume news.
He/she/it consumes · Past consumed · Past participle consumed · -ing form consuming
Verb forms
- Base form
- consume
- He/she/it
- consumes
- Past
- consumed
- Past participle
- consumed
- -ing form
- consuming
From the library
He was one of those English tourists who consume a large fortune in travelling.
It is probable that he imagined his crime to be a bloodless one, and hoped that if the body were consumed it would hide all traces of the method of his death—traces which, for some reason, must have pointed to him.
The engines were soon upon the spot, but the dry wood burned with great fury, and it was impossible to arrest the conflagration until the stack had been entirely consumed.
His very soul is consumed with hatred for this splendid child, whose health and beauty are a contrast to his own weakness."
Learn consume in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.