consist
/kənˈsɪst/- 1.
Used as 'consist of': to be made up of specific parts, people, or things. It describes the complete makeup of something — nothing is left out.
- The exam consists of forty multiple-choice questions.
- A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
- Her daily routine consists of exercise, work, and reading.
- 2.
Used as 'consist in' (formal, less common): to have something as the most essential or defining quality.
- Real leadership consists in earning trust, not demanding it.
- The challenge consists in keeping everyone motivated.
Adinary Nuance
"Consist of," "include," "comprise," and "contain" all describe what something is made of, but they are not interchangeable. "Consist of" signals the full, complete list — if a meal consists of rice and dal, that is everything. "Include" is weaker and open-ended — if a meal includes rice, there are likely other items too. "Comprise" is more formal and works the opposite direction: the whole comprises the parts ("the report comprises five chapters"), whereas "consist of" uses the whole as the subject too. For IELTS and academic writing, "consist of" is a safer, clearer choice than "comprise" because it rarely trips writers up with direction errors.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bao gồm
- Spanish
- consistir en
- Chinese
- 由…组成
- Japanese
- ～から成る
- Korean
- ~로 구성되다
Etymology
From Latin "consistere," meaning "to stand together" or "stand firm," built from "con-" (together) and "sistere" (to stand or stop). It entered English in the mid-16th century, originally with a sense of holding something steady before settling into its current meaning of composition.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Can I say 'is consisted of'? Is that correct?
- No — 'consist' does not use passive voice. You cannot say 'is consisted of.' The correct form is always active: 'The team consists of five players.' Think of it like 'belong to' — you would never say 'is belonged to.'
- What is the difference between 'consist of' and 'include'?
- 'Consist of' implies the complete, full list of parts. 'Include' implies a partial list — there may be more. So 'the kit consists of three items' means exactly three, while 'the kit includes a manual' just highlights one item among possibly more.
- Is 'consist' formal? Can I use it in IELTS writing?
- Yes, 'consist of' is a natural and widely accepted academic phrase. It is a smart choice in IELTS Task 1 (describing charts or processes) and Task 2 essays. It is neither stiff nor informal — it sits comfortably in academic writing.
- What is the difference between 'consist of' and 'comprise'?
- Both describe composition, but the direction differs. With 'consist of,' the whole is the subject: 'The team consists of four members.' With 'comprise,' the whole is also the subject: 'The team comprises four members.' However, 'comprise' is often misused, so 'consist of' is the safer academic choice.