1
a
: the act or process of consuming
consumption of food
consumption of resources
b
: use by or exposure to a particular group or audience
The document was not intended for public consumption.
2
: use of something
the jet's high consumption of fuel
the consumption of electricity
3
b
: a progressive wasting away of the body especially from pulmonary tuberculosis

Examples of consumption in a Sentence

The jet's high fuel consumption makes it expensive to operate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hence, retail traders will gain a cheaper and more precise way to speculate on crude, but production, consumption, inventories and geopolitics will remain the dominant forces setting prices. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Part of a sumo’s training involves massive calorie consumption to become as sizable as possible and thus very hard to move in the ring. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 JetZero says its unusual configuration could reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 50% compared with conventional aircraft carrying the same number of passengers. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Restaurants and private grocery stores are struggling to stay open because of higher supply costs and lower consumption. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consumption

Word History

Etymology

Middle English consumpcioun, from Latin consumption-, consumptio, from consumere — see consume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of consumption was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consumption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

consumption

noun
1
a
: the act or process of consuming
b
: the amount consumed
2
a
: a gradual and continuous wasting away of the body especially from tuberculosis of the lungs

Medical Definition

consumption

noun
1
: a progressive wasting away of the body especially from pulmonary tuberculosis
2

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