Definition of consult verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

consult

verb

/kənˈsʌlt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they consult	/kənˈsʌlt/ /kənˈsʌlt/
he / she / it consults	/kənˈsʌlts/ /kənˈsʌlts/
past simple consulted	/kənˈsʌltɪd/ /kənˈsʌltɪd/
past participle consulted	/kənˈsʌltɪd/ /kənˈsʌltɪd/
-ing form consulting	/kənˈsʌltɪŋ/ /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] to go to somebody for information or advice
- consult somebody If the pain continues, consult your doctor.
- consult somebody about something Have you consulted your lawyer about this?
- a consulting engineer (= one who has expert knowledge and gives advice)
- (North American English) consult with somebody (about/on something) Consult with your physician about possible treatments.
Extra Examples
- I need to consult my teacher about changing my course.
- If the pain persists you should consult your doctor.
Topics Suggestions and adviceb2, Healthcareb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- widely
- closely
- frequently
- …
verb + consult
- need to
- should
preposition
- about
- with
See full entry
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[transitive, intransitive] to discuss something with somebody to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision
- consult somebody You shouldn't have done it without consulting me.
- consult somebody about/on something I expect to be consulted about major issues.
- consult (with somebody) (about/on something) I need to consult with my colleagues on the proposals.
- We consulted quite widely before deciding what to do.
Synonyms talk
talkdiscuss ▪ speak ▪ communicate ▪ debate ▪ consultThese words all mean to share news, information, ideas or feelings with another person or other people, especially by talking with them.
talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas:
We talked on the phone for over an hour.
discuss (rather formal) to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide something:
Have you discussed the problem with anyone?
You cannot say ‘discuss about something’: I’m not prepared to discuss about this on the phone. speak to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody:
I’ve spoken to the manager about it.
‘Can I speak to Susan?’ ‘Speaking.’ (= at the beginning of a phone conversation)
talk or speak?Speak can suggest a more formal level of communication than talk. You speak to somebody about something to try to achieve a particular goal or to tell them to do something. You talk to somebody in order to be friendly or to ask their advice: Have you talked to your parents about the problems you’re having? • I’ve spoken to Ed about it and he’s promised not to let it happen again.
communicate (rather formal) to exchange information or ideas with somebody:
We only communicate by email.
Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other.
Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used.debate to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution:
Politicians will be debating the bill later this week.
consult (rather formal) to discuss something with somebody in order to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision:
You shouldn’t have done it without consulting me.
Patterns
- to talk/discuss something/speak/communicate/debate/consult with somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody/consult somebody about something
- to talk/speak of something
Extra Examples
- We are consulting closely with our partners and allies.
- They felt they had not been adequately consulted.
Topics Preferences and decisionsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- widely
- closely
- frequently
- …
verb + consult
- need to
- should
preposition
- about
- with
See full entry
[transitive] consult something to look in or at something to get information synonym refer to
- He consulted the manual.
- If you're not sure which plug to buy, consult the manual.

Word Originearly 16th cent. (in the sense ‘confer’): from French consulter, from Latin consultare, frequentative of consulere ‘take counsel’.

See consult in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee consult in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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Nearby words

elaborate

adjective

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