consume
/kənˈsjuːm/- 1.
To eat or drink something, especially in a large amount. This use is more formal than 'eat' or 'drink' and is common in academic and official writing.
- The guests consumed the entire buffet in under an hour.
- She consumes three cups of coffee every morning.
- Adults should not consume more than six grams of salt a day.
- 2.
To use up a large amount of time, energy, money, or fuel. It suggests the resource is heavily or completely used in the process.
- This single project consumed most of our annual budget.
- Electric vehicles consume far less fuel than petrol cars.
- The repairs consumed three full days of work.
- 3.
If fire consumes something, it destroys it completely. If a strong feeling consumes a person, it takes over their mind entirely.
- The warehouse was consumed by flames overnight.
- She was consumed by guilt after making the mistake.
- Ambition consumed him, and he forgot everything else.
Adinary Nuance
Consume belongs to a cluster that includes eat, use, devour, exhaust, and deplete — but it is the most formal of the group, which is why IELTS and academic writing strongly favor it. Compared to eat, consume sounds clinical and measured; you eat a meal at home, but a study says people "consume" 2,000 calories a day. Against devour, consume is neutral in tone — devour adds a sense of speed or greed ("he devoured the book"). Against exhaust or deplete, consume focuses on the act of using something up, while exhaust and deplete highlight the result — that nothing remains. Choose consume whenever you want a formal, precise tone about using resources, food, or energy.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tiêu thụ
- Spanish
- consumir
- Chinese
- 消耗
- Japanese
- 消費する
- Korean
- 소비하다
Etymology
From Latin "consumere," meaning to take up entirely or use up, built from "com-" (completely) and "sumere" (to take). The word entered English in the late 14th century through Old French "consumer."
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'consume' more formal than 'eat' or 'use'?
- Yes, considerably. 'Consume' is standard in academic writing, reports, and IELTS essays. In casual speech, 'eat' and 'use' sound more natural. If you're writing a Task 1 or Task 2 essay, 'consume' is almost always the stronger choice.
- What is the difference between 'consume' and 'deplete'?
- 'Consume' describes the act of using a resource — energy, food, time. 'Deplete' focuses on the result: the resource is now nearly or completely gone. You consume fuel while driving; you deplete the fuel tank by the end of the trip.
- Can 'consume' describe emotions or feelings?
- Yes, and this is a common literary and academic use. Saying someone is 'consumed by grief' or 'consumed by ambition' means the emotion has taken over their thoughts completely. This figurative use is very natural in both written and spoken English.
- Is 'consume' a good word to use in IELTS writing?
- Absolutely. It scores well for lexical resource because it is precise and academic. Use it in place of 'eat,' 'use,' or 'spend' when discussing food, energy, time, or money in formal essays.