WordGarden.ioconsolidate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kənˈsɒl.ɪ.deɪt/obsoleteadjective
US
- /kənˈsɑlɪˌdeɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to combine separate things into a single whole
to make a position, gain, or body of knowledge stronger and more secure
to merge businesses, organizations, departments, or operations into one
More meaningsFewer meanings
to combine debts, loans, or accounts into one obligation or payment
to bring data, files, systems, or digital resources together in one place or structure
to make a substance or mass firmer, denser, or more solid
Beyond the definition
Imagine building with LEGO bricks. You might start with separate creations, then consolidate them—combine the pieces into one bigger, stronger structure. That's what it means to consolidate! It can mean bringing things together in real life, like merging companies, or making something more secure and stable, like consolidating your debts. Think of it as taking scattered parts and turning them into a unified whole.
Sometimes consolidation happens over time—like how memories consolidate in your brain after you learn something new. Other times it's a deliberate action: "The two schools consolidated to form one larger high school." It's about making things more efficient, powerful, or stable by bringing them together.
To consolidate means to combine separate parts into a single, stronger whole; to strengthen something by joining forces or resources. It's often used in business and finance, where companies might consolidate their operations to reduce costs and increase efficiency—think of two smaller banks merging into one larger bank.
In accounting, people also talk about consolidated results: numbers from different parts of a business (like subsidiaries) are combined into one set of financial statements.
But consolidation isn't limited to the corporate world. You can consolidate your debts, meaning you combine multiple loans into a single loan with (hopefully) better terms. A general might consolidate their gains after a battle, securing their position before moving forward. Even learning works through consolidation: as you revisit information, your brain consolidates those memories, making them more permanent and easier to recall.
The word comes from the Latin consolidare, meaning "to make solid." This hints at the core idea of strengthening something by bringing its parts together. It's about taking things that are fragmented or dispersed and creating a unified, stable entity.
So, whether it's businesses merging, debts being simplified, memories becoming firm, or armies securing their positions—to consolidate is to combine, strengthen, and make whole.
Examples
- 1
Company restructuring
The company consolidated its three offices into one downtown building.
- 2
Digital messages
This app helps you consolidate all your messages in one inbox.
- 3
Political power
After winning the election, she moved quickly to consolidate her power.
- 4
Sports position
A strong second half of the season would consolidate the team's place in the top four.
- Patternconsolidate a place/position
make it more secure
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Debt management
He got a new loan to consolidate his credit-card debt.
- Patternconsolidate debt
combine several debts into one payment
- 6
Learning memory
Take a short break after each chapter to consolidate what you've learned.
- Patternconsolidate what you've learned
make it firmer in your memory
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- consolidate debt
- consolidate data
- consolidate operations
- consolidate resources
Word family
Explore
- restructuring
- economies of scale
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- consolidateverb
Forms
- consolidatedpast tenseverb
- consolidating-ing formverb
- consolidatesverb