consume
B2Neutral to formal in literal usage; formal in figurative usage
Definition
Meaning
to use up, eat, drink, or destroy something completely
to obsessively occupy one's thoughts or emotions; to absorb fully (as with information or attention)
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a connotation of completeness (total use/destruction). In economic contexts, means purchasing and using goods/services. In figurative use (consumed by), implies overwhelming domination.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for 'consume' over 'eat/drink' in formal UK contexts; US usage slightly more common in business ('consumer').
Connotations
Both varieties share core meanings; 'consuming passion/interest' equally figurative.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; perhaps slightly higher in US due to 'consumer culture' discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] consumes [sth][sth] consumes [sb] (figurative)be consumed by/with [emotion/thought]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “consumed with jealousy/anger”
- “consuming passion”
- “fire consumed the building”
- “time-consuming task”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to purchasing/using goods (consumer behaviour, market consumption).
Academic
Used in economics, environmental studies (resource consumption), media studies (media consumption).
Everyday
Mostly for eating/drinking or using up resources (electricity, time).
Technical
In computing (CPU consumes resources), chemistry (reaction consumes reactants).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new server consumes a fair amount of electricity.
- She was consumed with worry about her exams.
- The average household consumes 300 litres of water daily.
American English
- That truck consumes too much gas.
- He is consumed by his work.
- Americans consume a lot of media on their phones.
adverb
British English
- He ate consumingly, finishing the entire pie.
- The fire spread consumingly fast.
American English
- She worked consumingly hard on the project.
- The disease progressed consumingly quick.
adjective
British English
- It was a consuming interest that took all her free time.
- The consuming fire raged for hours.
American English
- She has a consuming passion for jazz music.
- The consuming need to succeed drove him.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I consume two apples every day.
- The car consumes petrol.
- This light bulb consumes less energy.
- He was consumed with curiosity about the noise.
- The factory consumes vast quantities of raw materials.
- Her jealousy consumed her after seeing them together.
- Contemporary digital culture voraciously consumes user-generated content.
- The protagonist is consumed by an existential dread that permeates the narrative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CONSUME' = 'COMpletely USE up, Making Empty'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONS/THOUGHTS ARE FIRE (consumed by anger); TIME/RESOURCES ARE FUEL (consumes hours); ATTENTION IS FOOD (consumes content).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'расходовать' в значении тратить деньги (spend). 'Consume' для еды/ресурсов.
- 'Consumer' переводится как 'потребитель', а не 'консумер'.
- В русском 'потреблять' часто звучит более формально/технично, чем 'consume'.
- 'Consuming' как прилагательное ('a consuming interest') = всепоглощающий.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'consume' for simple eating informally (say 'eat' instead).
- Confusing 'consume' (use up) with 'assume' (suppose).
- Incorrect: 'He consumes his lunch quickly' (too formal for casual eating).
- Overusing figurative 'consumed by' for mild emotions.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'consume' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but usually figuratively: emotions/thoughts can consume a person. Literally, it's used for what people eat/drink (people consume food).
No. 'Consumption' (the act/process) and 'consumer' (the person/entity that consumes) are both common. 'Consumable' (adjective/noun for items used up) also exists.
'Eat' is specific to solid food and informal. 'Consume' is more formal, can include liquids, and emphasises the complete use/depletion. In everyday talk, use 'eat' or 'drink'.
Yes, 'time-consuming' is the standard adjectival form (a time-consuming task). Without a hyphen before a noun, it might be less clear.