consist
Consist (verb) means to be made up of particular parts or elements. Example: “The meal consisted of soup, bread, and salad.”
How to use consist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be composed of certain parts.
"Consist of" is followed by the parts making up the whole, not by a passive verb — "The team consists of five people," not "is consisted."
Word forms
consisted past tense, consists plural, consists singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The meal _____ of soup, bread, and salad.
Etymology
From Latin consistere, "to stand together, remain firm" — com- ("together") plus sistere ("to stand").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “consist” mean?
The word “consist” means to be made up of particular parts or elements. In plain terms, to be composed of certain parts.
How do you pronounce “consist”?
“Consist” is pronounced kuhn-SIHST (/kənˈsɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “consist” in a sentence?
Here is “consist” used in a sentence: “The meal consisted of soup, bread, and salad.”
What part of speech is “consist”?
Depending on how it is used, “consist” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “consist” come from?
The word “consist” comes from Latin. From Latin consistere, "to stand together, remain firm" — com- ("together") plus sistere ("to stand").
Is “consist” a common word?
“Consist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “consist” have?
“Consist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be made up of particular parts or elements.
What is the difference between 'consist of' and 'consist in'?
'Consist of' means to be made up of particular parts, as in 'The team consists of five players.' 'Consist in' means to have something as its essential feature, as in 'Happiness consists in contentment.' The two prepositions carry distinct meanings.
What is the difference between 'consist of' and 'comprise'?
'Consist of' is always followed by 'of' before the parts, as in 'The house consists of six rooms.' 'Comprise' means the same thing but is used without 'of', as in 'The house comprises six rooms.' Adding 'of' after 'comprise' is widely considered incorrect.
Can 'consist' be used in a continuous tense?
No, 'consist' is a stative verb describing a fixed state, so it is not normally used in continuous forms. You would say 'The book consists of ten chapters', not 'is consisting of'.
Which preposition follows 'consist'?
In its most common meaning, 'consist' is followed by 'of' to introduce the parts that make something up. In a more formal sense meaning to lie in or be based on something, it takes 'in' instead.