Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense consults, present participle consulting, past tense, past participle consulted
1. verb
If you consult an expert or someone senior to you or consultwith them, you ask them for their opinion and advice about what you should do or their permission to do something.
Consult your doctor about how much exercise you should attempt. [VERB noun]
He needed to consult with an attorney. [VERB + with]
If you are in any doubt, consult a financial adviser. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If a person or group of people consultswith other people or consults them, they talk and exchange ideas and opinions about what they might decide to do.
After consulting with her daughter and manager she decided to take on the part, onher terms. [VERB + with]
The two countries will have to consult their allies. [VERB noun]
The umpires consulted quickly. [VERB]
Synonyms: confer, talk, debate, deliberate More Synonyms of consult
3. verb
If you consult a book or a map, you look in it or look at it in order to find some information.
Consult the chart on page 44 for the correct cooking times. [VERB noun]
He had to consult a pocket dictionary. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: refer to, check in, look in More Synonyms of consult
More Synonyms of consult
consult in British English
(kənˈsʌlt)
verb
1. (whenintr, often foll by with)
to ask advice from (someone); confer with (someone)
2. (transitive)
to refer to for information
to consult a map
3. (transitive)
to have regard for (a person's feelings, interests, etc) in making decisions or plans; consider
4. (intransitive)
to make oneself available to give professional advice, esp at scheduled times and for a fee
Derived forms
consultable (conˈsultable)
adjective
consulter (conˈsulter) or consultor (conˈsultor)
noun
Word origin
C17: from French consulter, from Latin consultāre to reflect, take counsel, from consulere to consult
consult in American English
(kənˈsʌlt)
verb intransitive
1.
to talk things over in order to decide or plan something; confer
verb transitive
2.
a.
to seek an opinion from; ask the advice of
to consult a lawyer
b.
to refer to or turn to, esp. for information
to consult a map
3.
to keep in mind while acting or deciding; show regard for; consider
consult your own wishes in the matter
4. Obsolete
a.
to confer about
b.
to plan for
noun
5. Obsolete
a consultation
Derived forms
consulter (conˈsulter)
noun
Word origin
L consultare < pp. of consulere, to deliberate, consider, orig., prob., to call together, as in consulere senatum, to gather the senate, hence ask (it) for advice < com-, with + IE base *sel-, to take, seize > sell, Gr helein, to take
Examples of 'consult' in a sentence
consult
Watch her in the consulting room and she has a stillness about her that is calming.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If there's anything else down there you should consult a doctor.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is possible to see a doc online these days - but apps and sites are not always a substitute for consulting a doctor face-to-face.
The Sun (2016)
There was no time to consult a pronunciation adviser.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And always consult an attorney before a final accusation is printed or read publicly.
Christianity Today (2000)
They are one of the groups who are consulting us but they are not the only one.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They now turn up in the consulting room.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Were any actual young people consulted during the designing of this car?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That is just one of the problems some people have consulted me about over the years.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
Most of the maps we consult in life are unfamiliar and require interpretation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But if you are unsure about investing in any of our picks you should consult an adviser.
The Sun (2011)
An attorney should be consulted about this procedure.
Laszlo, John (MD) Understanding Cancer (1987)
Ministers and motoring groups are consulting on how to control them.
The Sun (2009)
Our ground floor became a consulting room and two changing rooms for his patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
People are consulted more to gain their assent or acquiescence rather than to ascertain their views.
Brindley,Tim & Rydin, Yvonne & Stoker, Gerry Remaking Planning: the politics of urban change in the Thatcher years (1989)
They should only be used for a maximum of two weeks without consulting your doctor.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Staff are due to be consulted about the proposed changes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Each morning he would wake and consult a map to pinpoint a place to sleep that night.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anyone with large gains should consult a financial adviser or tax expert.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Environmental groups have already consulted lawyers about the proposals and how they could be challenged in the courts.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So please consult them and encourage them to enjoy your dog instead of giving them cause to complain about it.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
If you have a friend you think is capable of giving sound advice, consult him.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
If it is obscure, ask advice or consult a dictionary.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
It would be outrageous for the Union to be dismembered without all its parts being consulted in a referendum.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Though other writers may be more decorous in choosing names for their major characters, they will almost always consult their internal dictionary for associations.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
consult: to seek another's approval of a course already decided onAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
In other languages
consult
British English: consult /kənˈsʌlt/ VERB
If you consult someone or something, you refer to them for advice or information. You can also consult with someone.
If you still feel ill, consult your doctor.
The umpires consulted quickly.
American English: consult
Arabic: يَسْتَشِيرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: consultar
Chinese: 商量
Croatian: savjetovati se
Czech: radit se
Danish: konsultere
Dutch: consulteren
European Spanish: consultar
Finnish: kysyä neuvoa
French: consulter
German: konsultieren
Greek: συμβουλεύομαι
Italian: consultare
Japanese: 相談する
Korean: 상의하다
Norwegian: rådspørre
Polish: poradzić się
European Portuguese: consultar
Romanian: a consulta
Russian: советоваться
Latin American Spanish: consultar
Swedish: konsultera
Thai: ปรึกษา
Turkish: danışmak
Ukrainian: звертатися за консультацією
Vietnamese: tư vấn
Chinese translation of 'consult'
consult
(kənˈsʌlt)
vt
[doctor, lawyer, friend]咨询(詢) (zīxún)
[book, map]查阅(閱) (cháyuè)
to consult sb about sth就某事向某人咨询(詢) (jiù mǒushì xiàng mǒurén zīxún)
1 (verb)
Definition
to ask advice from or discuss matters with (someone)
Consult your doctor before undertaking a strenuous exercise programme.
Synonyms
ask
`How is Frank?' he asked.
refer to
turn to
interrogate
I interrogated everyone who was even slightly involved.
take counsel
ask advice of
pick (someone's) brains
question
A man is being questioned by police.
2 (verb)
Definition
to ask advice from or discuss matters with (someone)
The umpires consulted quickly.
Synonyms
confer
She conferred with Hill and the others in her office.
talk
Let's talk about these new ideas of yours.
debate
He debated whether to have a dessert.
deliberate
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
commune
compare notes
consider
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
3 (verb)
Definition
to refer to for information
He had to consult a pocket dictionary.
Synonyms
refer to
check in
look in
4 (verb)
They must not feel the decision has been made without consulting their feelings.
Synonyms
consider
You have to consider the feelings of those around you.
regard
I regard creativity as both a gift and a skill.
respect
Trying to respect her wishes, I said I'd leave.
take account of
take into consideration
have regard for
Quotation
consult: to seek another's approval of a course already decided on [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of debate
Definition
to consider (possible courses of action)
He debated whether to have a dessert.
Synonyms
consider,
reflect,
think about,
weigh,
contemplate,
deliberate,
ponder,
revolve,
mull over,
ruminate,
give thought to,
cogitate,
meditate upon
in the sense of deliberate
Definition
to consider (something) deeply
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
Synonyms
consider,
think,
ponder,
discuss,
debate,
reflect,
consult,
weigh,
meditate,
mull over,
ruminate,
cogitate
in the sense of interrogate
Definition
to question (someone) closely
I interrogated everyone who was even slightly involved.