consolidate
/kənˈsɒl.ɪ.deɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make something stronger, more stable, or more effective by joining parts together. It can also mean to make power, control, or support more secure.
- They want to consolidate the two departments.
- She consolidated her position in the company.
- The company is trying to consolidate its gains.
Adinary Nuance
Consolidate is stronger and more formal than combine or join. It suggests making something firmer, safer, or more secure, not just putting things together. In business, study, and politics, it often means strengthening a position or reducing separate parts into one.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- củng cố
- Spanish
- consolidar
- Chinese
- 巩固
- Japanese
- 統合する
- Korean
- 통합하다
Etymology
Consolidate comes from Latin consolidare, meaning “to make firm.” It entered English in the late 15th century.
Common phrases
consolidate powerconsolidate gainsconsolidate debtconsolidate resources
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is consolidate formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. You will see it often in business, academic, and news writing.
- What is the difference between consolidate and combine?
- Combine means to put things together. Consolidate means to put them together and make them stronger or more secure.
- How do I use consolidate in a sentence?
- Use it with things like power, debt, gains, or departments: “They consolidated the teams.”
- Is consolidate common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful in academic and business topics, especially when writing about change or development.