consolidate

verb

con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt How to pronounce consolidate (audio)
consolidated; consolidating

transitive verb

1
: to join together into one whole : unite
consolidate several small school districts
2
: to make firm or secure : strengthen
consolidate their hold on first place
He consolidated his position as head of the political party.
3
: to form into a compact mass
The press consolidates the fibers into board.

intransitive verb

: to become consolidated
specifically : merge
The two companies consolidated.
consolidator noun

Examples of consolidate in a Sentence

The two funds will consolidate into one. The administration hopes that such measures will consolidate its position. Rebel forces have consolidated their hold on the region.
Recent Examples on the Web In addition to increasing security staff, MTS consolidated its around-the-clock hotlines into one number, (619) 595-4960. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 What is becoming professionally demoralizing to her lately, though, is the sense that female artists are being removed from America’s comics pages as several newspaper chains have consolidated or contracted their print funnies in recent years. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The three cases, which were consolidated in federal court in September 2022, allege Mensah used excessive force in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment in each fatal shooting. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 As the market consolidates, two to three large factions will emerge, and companies ranging from big tech to startups will position themselves to be the heart of those systems. John Kell, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 The Big Ten and SEC are rapidly consolidating their power across the college sports spectrum. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 The last time a total solar eclipse passed over Indianapolis was more than 800 years ago in 1205 when Genghis Khan was consolidating his power in China. John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 4 Mar. 2024 Endeavor, which reports Q4 earnings on Feb. 28, has majority interest in TKO and consolidates its results. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Perhaps because the competition wasn’t that bright, either, the Guerreros Unidos eventually managed to consolidate its fledgling operation, and even imbue it with a sort of mystique. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consolidate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin consolidatus, past participle of consolidare to make solid, from com- + solidus solid

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consolidate was circa 1512

Dictionary Entries Near consolidate

Cite this Entry

“Consolidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

consolidate

verb
con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsäl-ə-ˌdāt How to pronounce consolidate (audio)
consolidated; consolidating
1
: to join together into one whole : unite
2
: to make firm or safe : strengthen
consolidate a beachhead
consolidation
kən-ˌsäl-ə-ˈdā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

consolidate

transitive verb
con·​sol·​i·​date kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdāt How to pronounce consolidate (audio)
consolidated; consolidating
: to join together into one whole: as
a
: to combine (two or more lawsuits or matters that involve a common question of law or fact) into one compare class action

Note: Consolidation of matters in the federal courts is governed by Rule 42 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Consolidated cases may become one single action with a single judgment, or may retain their individual identities although tried together. The court may also try one representative case and render a judgment binding on the other cases.

b
: to combine (two or more corporations) to form one new corporation compare merger
consolidation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on consolidate

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