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to consume

to consume

172 3.2
To use up resources until none are left
  • verb
  • /kənˈsuːm/
translation icon : agotar
  • Thus, in less than one decade, Asia became the largest oil-consuming region in the world.
  • consume energy
  • consume resources
  • consume large amounts

I do wonder how people are able to consume that much each year though.

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Examples

  • We then narrowed the analysis to only foodborne cases among patients who reported consuming only raw oysters.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Interest payments alone consume more than half its annual spending.

  • So generally broke people consume more than they create.

  • So also does their capacity to consume goods and services.

  • In Asia, countries that consume natural gas will find it cheaper to do so.

    Academic text (2011)
  • So what happens if you consume more calories than you need?

  • But does it matter that the United States consumes more energy than any other nation?

    Academic text (1999)
  • Change is inevitable, because you can't continue to consume more than the planet can replenish every year.

  • But providing health care to every American consumes trillions of new dollars annually.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The factory will consume most of the raw materials in the production process.

Synonyms

to use
vsto consume
1.0

To put something to work for a purpose

often implies finishing the supply, not merely employing it for a task
to spend
vsto consume
1.0

To give money to buy something or pay for services

is broader, applying to any resource use not only payments or time
to eat
vsto consume
564 6.6

Gradually use up money or fuel

often means finishing a supply regardless of speed or manner
to burn
vsto consume
191 3.2

To use up money, energy, or other resources

is neutral and not limited to money, energy, or body measures
to drain
vsto consume
189 3.4

To slowly use up energy, money, or other resources

focuses on material depletion rather than causing personal tiredness
to wipe out
vsto consume
189 4.2

Destroy something so nothing is left

is about using up resources, not always violent destruction
to use up
vsto consume
69 2.7

To finish all of something so nothing is left

is the single neutral term that means the same total depletion
to exhaust
vsto consume
68 3.7

To use up all of a supply or resource

is the neutral general term for using resources until none remain
to devour
vsto consume
53 3.9

To destroy or use up things quickly, for example when fire burns a building

is broader and neutral, not necessarily eager or forceful
to expend
vsto consume
50 5.0

To use money, time, or energy for a purpose

is neutral about purpose and may simply mean finishing a supply
to eat up
vsto consume
  • Informal
23 3.1

Use up money or time quickly

can mean using resources until fully finished without speed focus
to run through
vsto consume
16 4.4

Use up money or supplies quickly and wastefully

is the neutral term without implying speed or waste
to deplete
vsto consume
13 6.3

To use up almost all of something so little is left

refers broadly to using up until nothing is left
to dissipate
vsto consume
3 7.0

To use money or energy in a foolish, wasteful way

is broader and neutral, not implying foolish or wasteful behaviour
to drain resources
vsto consume
2 4.6

To use up the money or help someone needs

is the general neutral verb without stressing steady or long time

Antonyms

2.0

To make something, often in large amounts for sale

1.0

Keep something for use later

How Much

to exhaust
68 3.7
to deplete
13 6.3
to consume
172 3.2
to use
1.0

Surface Forms

consume infinitive
consumed past
consumed past participle
consuming present participle
consumes third person singular

Etymology

Consume comes from the Latin consumere, with con- 'completely' and sumere 'to take'. So, to consume a resource is to 'take it all up' or use it until there is none left.