Consult Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Published on March 23, 2025
Consult means to seek information or advice from someone with expertise in a particular area. e.g., She decided to consult a lawyer before signing the contract.
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Consult Definitions
To refer to a source of information, such as a book or database, for specific information.
The chef consulted the recipe book for the exact measurements.
To consider or think about something carefully, often with someone else, before making a decision.
They consulted together before making an offer on the house.
To have a discussion where advice or information is exchanged.
The team consulted with their coach at halftime.
To look for information in a reference work.
She consulted the dictionary to understand the new words.
To meet formally with someone to discuss something.
The board consulted with the CEO about the company's direction.
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To take into account or consider, especially people's feelings or opinions.
The developers consulted the community's views before proceeding.
To call upon or use the services of a person or organization because of their expertise.
We need to consult an architect for this project.
To ask for permission or advice before you do something.
You should consult the manual before attempting repairs.
To engage in deliberation or discussion with someone to reach a decision or gain insights.
The committee will consult extensively before reaching a verdict.
To seek advice or information of
Consult an attorney.
To refer to
Consulted the restaurant's website for directions.
To take into account; consider
Consult one's checkbook before making a major purchase.
To exchange views; confer.
To work or serve as a consultant
A retired executive who consults for several large companies.
A consultation, especially one involving physicians.
(obsolete) The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation
(obsolete) the result of consultation; determination; decision.
(obsolete) A council; a meeting for consultation.
(obsolete) Agreement; concert.
(US) A visit, e.g. to a doctor; a consultation.
(intransitive) To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take counsel; to deliberate together; to confer.
(intransitive) To advise or offer expertise.
(intransitive) To work as a consultant or contractor rather than as a full-time employee of a firm.
(transitive) To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of (a person)
(transitive) To refer to (something) for information.
Look up
(transitive) To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to consider; as, to consult one's wishes.
To deliberate upon; to take for.
To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive.
To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take counsel; to deliberate together; to confer.
Let us consult upon to-morrow's business.
All the laws of England have been made by the kings England, consulting with the nobility and commons.
To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for information or instruction; to refer to; as, to consult a physician; to consult a dictionary.
Men forgot, or feared, to consult nature . . . ; they were content to consult libraries.
To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to consider; as, to consult one's wishes.
We are . . . to consult the necessities of life, rather than matters of ornament and delight.
To deliberate upon; to take for.
Manythings were there consulted for the future, yet nothing was positively resolved.
To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive.
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people.
The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation; also, the result of consulation; determination; decision.
The council broke;And all grave consults dissolved in smoke.
A council; a meeting for consultation.
Agreement; concert
Get or ask advice from;
Consult your local broker
They had to consult before arriving at a decision
Seek information from;
You should consult the dictionary
Refer to your notes
When planning or deciding something
Have a conference in order to talk something over;
We conferred about a plan of action
Advise professionally;
The professor consults for industry
To seek advice or information from someone, especially an expert or professional.
He consulted his doctor about the symptoms.
Consult Snonyms
Refer
To go or look into something for information.
I referred to the user guide to understand the features.
Deliberate
To think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully.
The jury deliberated for hours before reaching a decision.
Ask
To request advice or information from someone.
She asked her colleague for feedback on the presentation.
Discuss
To talk about something with someone.
We discussed the terms of the deal extensively.
Seek advice
To ask for guidance from someone knowledgeable.
She often seeks advice from her mentor.
Inquire
To ask for information from someone.
He inquired about the application process.
Confer
To discuss something important to make a decision together.
The partners conferred on the new business strategy.
Check
To look into something to verify or assess.
Check the document for any errors.
Advise
To give advice to; to offer an opinion or suggestion as worth following.
The consultant advised the company on tax matters.
Collaborate
To work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.
They collaborated closely to solve the technical issue.
Consult Idioms & Phrases
Consult with
To discuss something with someone to get their opinion or advice.
She consulted with her advisor on the project scope.
Consult the books
To look up information in financial or other records.
We'll need to consult the books to see if the budget allows for additional hires.
Consult your feelings
To think about how you feel about something before making a decision.
Consult your feelings before you respond to that offer.
Consult the oracle
Figuratively speaking to consult a source of wisdom or an authority.
He's consulting the oracle on that tricky software issue.
Consult the experts
To ask for advice from people who are specialists in a particular field.
For such legal matters, it's best to consult the experts.
Consult widely
To seek opinions or advice from many different people.
The committee decided to consult widely before drafting the legislation.
Consult the manual
To look up information in a manual.
If you're unsure how to install the software, consult the manual.
Consult the rules
To look up or check the regulations or guidelines.
You should consult the rules before playing the game.
Consult at length
To discuss something in detail for a long time.
The designers consulted at length with the client about her preferences.
Consult together
To come together to discuss and decide on something.
We need to consult together before making a final decision.
Consult one's partner
To discuss something with one's spouse or significant other.
He said he would consult his partner before they made any travel plans.
Consult the archives
To search through historical records or data.
The researcher consulted the archives for her dissertation.
Consult informally
To have an unofficial discussion about something.
We consulted informally over coffee.
Consult your inner self
To introspect or consider one's own feelings and desires.
Consult your inner self to determine the right path for you.
Consult each other
To seek advice or information from one another.
The co-authors consulted each other regularly while writing the book.
Consult the stars
A humorous or mystical way of saying to make a decision or seek guidance.
Before we decide, we might as well consult the stars!
Consult the agenda
To look at or discuss the agenda of a meeting.
Let's consult the agenda to see what's next.
Consult a map
To look at a map to determine a route or location.
We should consult a map before heading out.
Consult Example Sentences
We need to consult the community before implementing the new policy.
After the accident, it was crucial to consult a legal expert.
They decided to consult more data before making a decision.
It's wise to consult the instruction manual before assembling the furniture.
To understand your symptoms better, you should consult a specialist.
She needs to consult her schedule before committing to the meeting.
Consult the chart for a breakdown of the statistics.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called consult?
It is called consult because it originates from the Latin word "consultare," meaning to deliberate or take counsel, reflecting the action of seeking advice or information.
How do we divide consult into syllables?
Consult is divided into syllables as: con-sult.
How is consult used in a sentence?
Consult is used as a verb to describe seeking advice or information from someone, e.g., You should consult your doctor if the symptoms persist.
How many syllables are in consult?
Consult has two syllables.
What is a stressed syllable in consult?
The stressed syllable in consult is the first one, 'con'.
What is the first form of consult?
The first form of consult is "consult."
What part of speech is consult?
Consult is a verb.
What is the singular form of consult?
As a verb, consult does not have a singular or plural form; it remains "consult."
What is the pronunciation of consult?
Consult is pronounced as /kənˈsʌlt/.
What is another term for consult?
Another term for consult is "seek advice."
What is the plural form of consult?
As a verb, consult does not have a plural form.
Is consult an abstract noun?
No, consult is not a noun; it is a verb.
What is the root word of consult?
The root word of consult is the Latin "consultare."
Is consult a noun or adjective?
Consult is a verb.
Is consult an adverb?
No, consult is not an adverb; it is a verb.
Is consult a countable noun?
Consult is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is consult a collective noun?
No, consult is not a collective noun; it is a verb.
Is the word “consult” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, consult can act as a transitive verb, where it takes a direct object.
What is the verb form of consult?
Consult itself is a verb. The base form is "consult."
What is the opposite of consult?
The opposite of consult could be "ignore" or "disregard."
Is the consult term a metaphor?
Consult can be used metaphorically to describe careful consideration or deliberation in various contexts.
Is the word consult Gerund?
Yes, the gerund form of consult is "consulting."
Which vowel is used before consult?
Typically, articles or vowels are not placed directly before verbs like consult unless part of a larger phrase.
Which preposition is used with consult?
Prepositions such as "with" and "about" are commonly used with consult (e.g., "consult with a doctor," "consult about the issues").
What is the third form of consult?
The third form of consult is "consulted."
What is the second form of consult?
The second form of consult is "consulted."
Is consult a negative or positive word?
Consult is a neutral word; it becomes positive or negative depending on the context.
Is consult a vowel or consonant?
The word "consult" starts with a consonant.
Is the word consult imperative?
Consult can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command or instruction to seek advice or information.
Which determiner is used with consult?
Determiners are not typically used with verbs like consult.
Which conjunction is used with consult?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with consult in compound sentences.
Which article is used with consult?
As a verb, articles are not used directly with consult.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
