consume

/kənˈsjuːm/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: consumes

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To use up.

Verb

Examples

The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To eat.

Verb

Examples

Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “consume” mean?

To use up.

Is “consume” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.