Meaning & use
consummate
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformalapproving
Having complete and outstanding skill, or being a perfect example of a certain kind of person.
Grammar: Comes before a noun, as in a consummate professional.
Patterns
- a consummate professional
- a consummate performer
- consummate skill
She was a consummate professional and never missed a deadline.
The chef handled the crowded kitchen with consummate ease.
He is a consummate storyteller who holds the whole room.
adjectivebefore a noundisapproving
Complete in a bad way, used to emphasize a person's fault or failure.
Grammar: Before a noun, with a negative word: a consummate liar.
Patterns
- a consummate liar
- consummate fool
He was a consummate liar who fooled everyone.
The politician proved a consummate opportunist.
What a consummate waste of time that meeting was.
verbtransitiveformallegal
To make something complete or final, especially a marriage by sexual union, or a deal.
Grammar: Takes an object; the verb has a different stress and ending: /ˈkɒnsəmeɪt/. It is formal and often legal.
Patterns
- consummate a marriage
- consummate a deal
The two companies consummated the merger in March.
Under the old law, a marriage that was not consummated could be annulled.
The sale was finally consummated after months of talks.
Word forms
| third person singular | consummates |
|---|---|
| past tense | consummated |
| past participle | consummated |
| -ing form | consummating |
Common combinations
- consummate professional
- The nurse was a consummate professional in every emergency.
- consummate skill
- The pianist played with consummate skill.
- consummate ease
- She answered the difficult questions with consummate ease.
- consummate artist
- Rembrandt was a consummate artist of light and shadow.
- consummate a marriage
- The contract said the marriage had to be consummated.
- consummate a deal
- They consummated the deal with a handshake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- accomplished
- Accomplished says someone is highly trained, while consummate says they are perfect at it.
- supreme
- Supreme means highest in rank or degree and can describe things, while consummate usually describes a skilled person.
- complete
- Complete is a general word for 'total', whereas consummate adds the idea of mastery or an extreme example.
- masterly
- Masterly focuses on the skill itself, while consummate can describe the person as a perfect example.
Opposites
Word family
- consummately adverb
- In a perfect or highly skilled way
- consummation noun
- The act of completing something, or the completion of a marriage
- consummated adjective
- Made complete or final
Commonly confused: consummate or consume? consummate or consommé?
consummate vs consume
Consume means to eat, drink or use up, while consummate means perfect or to complete.
consummate vs consommé
A consommé is a clear soup and is only a similar sound.
Practice
Everyone agreed that she was a ____ negotiator who could settle any dispute with calm and skill.
Choose one answer.
Consummate here means supremely skilled and goes before a noun. Considered can describe a thoughtful decision, but it does not mean masterly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “consummate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.