consolation

/ˌkɒnsəˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈlā-shən/ (ame, mw)

consolation — noun

  • consolationsingular
  • consolationsplural

1. a person, thing, or event that reduces feelings of sadness or disappointment aft

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person, thing, or event that reduces feelings of sadness or disappointment after something unfortunate happens; also the emotional relief you receive from being comforted by others

例句

The letter from her grandmother was a great consolation during those difficult weeks after the move.

uncountable: a great consolation — comfort as a feeling

When Taro's team lost the final match, the only consolation was knowing they had played their best.

pattern: the only consolation was [that-clause/gerund]

同義詞
  • comfort

    more general, can be physical as well as emotional; 'comfort' is also more everyday

  • solace

    more literary and formal; implies deeper emotional pain

  • relief

    focuses on the lessening of distress rather than the source of comfort

  • soothing

    emphasises the calming effect rather than the comfort itself

反義詞
  • distress

    the emotional pain that consolation tries to relieve

  • grief

    strong sorrow that consolation aims to reduce

文法句型

consolation + for + noun phrase

find/take + consolation + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense is the most common. It can be uncountable (the feeling of comfort, as in 'great consolation') or countable (a specific person or thing that comforts, as in 'her friendship was a consolation'). The fixed phrase 'If it's any consolation…' is used to introduce a remark intended to make someone feel less disappointed.

常見錯誤

❌I felt very consolation after the talk.
✅I felt great consolation after the talk.
💡'Consolation' is a noun, not an adjective; use 'great' or 'some' rather than 'very'.
❌The news brought consolation to him.
✅The news brought him consolation.
💡The indirect object can follow the verb directly without 'to'.

2. the activity of providing someone with comfort, sympathy, or emotional support w

2.名詞B2
釋義

the activity of providing someone with comfort, sympathy, or emotional support when they are sad, suffering, or disappointed

例句

The priest offered words of consolation to the grieving family at the funeral.

collocation: words of consolation

Kwame's friends came by to offer consolation after he lost his job.

collocation: offer consolation

同義詞
  • comforting

    less formal and more widely used in everyday speech

  • consoling

    directly matches the verb 'console' but sounds more deliberate

  • soothing

    suggests calming physical or emotional pain, often with a gentle approach

  • sympathy

    focuses on sharing and understanding another person's feelings, not necessarily actively comforting

反義詞
  • aggravation

    making distress worse instead of providing comfort

文法句型

offer + consolation + to + someone

words + of + consolation

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and formal. It describes the act itself rather than the feeling or the comforting thing. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on giving or offering comfort (the action), not on receiving it (the feeling). Common in religious, therapeutic, or formal caregiving contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He made a consolation to her.
✅He offered consolation to her.
💡'Make consolation' is not idiomatic; use 'offer', 'give', or 'provide'.
❌She gave him a consolation.
✅She gave him consolation.
💡In this sense, 'consolation' is uncountable; do not use the article 'a'.