consumed
/kənˈsjuːm/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈumd] /kənˈsuːm/ (ame, ipa)
consumed — verb
- consumedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- consumeds3rd person singular
- consumeding-ing form
- consumededpast simple
1. to make fuel, time, energy, or other supplies disappear by using them, often in
to make fuel, time, energy, or other supplies disappear by using them, often in large amounts
The old fridge consumed too much electricity during the summer heatwave.
consume + electricity/energy
Our video call consumed half my phone battery before lunchtime.
Repairs consumed most of the money we had saved for travel.
Training for the marathon consumed every free evening in April.
- use up
most direct everyday equivalent
- burn through
informal; suggests very fast or wasteful use
- exhaust
more formal; emphasizes leaving nothing left
文法句型
consume + energy/time/resources
用法筆記
The object is usually a resource such as time, fuel, electricity, money, or data. The subject is often a machine, process, or activity rather than a person.
常見錯誤
2. to take food or drink into your body by eating it or drinking it
to take food or drink into your body by eating it or drinking it
Gabriel consumed two bowls of noodles after the night shift.
formal verb for eating food
The hikers consumed all their water before reaching the ridge.
At lunch, Megan consumed only soup because her throat hurt.
The baby bird consumed the soft fruit within a few seconds.
文法句型
consume + food/drink
用法筆記
More formal and less conversational than 'eat' or 'drink'. Common in health writing, surveys, science reports, and instructions about diet or alcohol.
3. to spend time watching, reading, or listening to media so that you take in its i
to spend time watching, reading, or listening to media so that you take in its information or entertainment
Ryan consumed three election podcasts on the train to Taichung.
consume + podcasts/content
During the storm, our family consumed updates from every news app.
By midnight, Mina had consumed every rumor thread about the missing singer.
Within an hour, viewers consumed the live stream clips on every platform.
- ignore
choose not to look at the content
- switch off
stop paying attention to media
文法句型
consume + media/content/information
用法筆記
Common in journalism, business, and technology writing. The object is usually content, media, news, or information rather than a physical thing.
4. if fire consumed something, it burned through it until almost nothing remained
if fire consumed something, it burned through it until almost nothing remained
The warehouse was consumed by flames before firefighters reached the dock.
be consumed by + flames
By dawn, the brush fire had consumed thirty acres of dry grass.
A candle tipped over and consumed the curtains near the stage.
The explosion consumed the wooden staircase in less than a minute.
文法句型
fire/flames consume + object
be consumed by + flames
用法筆記
Often used in dramatic reports of fires, explosions, or spreading flames. Very common in the passive pattern 'be consumed by flames'.
5. to fill a person so completely with an emotion or thought that it controls their
to fill a person so completely with an emotion or thought that it controls their attention and actions
After the verdict, Aylin was consumed by anger for days.
be consumed by + emotion
Jack felt consumed by guilt after ignoring his father's last call.
Since the breakup, she has been consumed by thoughts of revenge.
The young composer became consumed by the dream of writing opera.
文法句型
be consumed by + emotion/thought
feel consumed by + noun
用法筆記
Most often appears in passive forms such as 'be consumed by' or 'feel consumed by'. The cause is usually a strong emotion, fear, grief, ambition, or obsession.
常見錯誤
6. to use a great deal of money in a careless, wasteful, or over-luxurious way
to use a great deal of money in a careless, wasteful, or over-luxurious way
Within six months, he had consumed his inheritance on sports cars.
consume + inheritance/money wastefully
The failed startup consumed millions of dollars without selling a product.
Lavish wedding plans consumed nearly all the couple's borrowed money.
Corruption consumed the aid budget before any homes were rebuilt.
- squander
strong everyday word for wasting money
- burn through
informal; spend very quickly
- lavish
formal; give or spend richly, often excessively
文法句型
consume + money/budget/inheritance
用法筆記
This sense adds a judgment of excess or waste. Distinguish it from sense 1: sense 1 can be neutral, while sense 6 suggests bad spending choices or money disappearing irresponsibly.