consuming

Verb

consume (third-person singular simple present consumes, present participle consuming, simple past and past participle consumed)

1. (transitive) To use up.
   • The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.

   Synonyms:

   burn, use, use up, expend

2. (transitive) To eat.
   • Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.

   Synonyms:

   devour, eat, swallow

3. (transitive) To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.
   • Desire consumed him.

   Synonyms:

   occupy, overcome, take over

4. (transitive) To destroy completely.
   • The building was consumed by fire.

   Synonyms:

   annihilate, destroy, devastate, eliminate, obliterate, raze, wipe out

5. (intransitive, obsolete) To waste away slowly.
   • Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs.1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
6. (intransitive, transitive) To obtain and use goods or services as an individual.
   • In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.

See all 7 meanings of consume