consolidate

1 of 2

verb

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

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

consolidator

2 of 2

noun

con·​sol·​i·​da·​tor kən-ˈsä-lə-ˌdā-tər How to pronounce consolidator (audio)
plural -s
1
: one that consolidates
2
: one who buys airline tickets at a discounted bulk rate and sells them to travelers and travel agents

Examples of consolidate in a Sentence

Verb 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
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Verb
Once the nonprofit receives enough stories, Goldsmith plans to use artificial intelligence to consolidate their insight into actionable processes for growth that will be publicly shared. Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 July 2026 By consolidating voting control in the hands of the controller, the company guarantees that management is held accountable by a definitive, central authority. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026 This year, Mecklenburg County and the club consolidated the remaining issues into a single remediation project. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026 The relative setup for SPLV is naturally improving as the S & P 500 Index (SPX) consolidates. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for consolidate

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consolidate was circa 1512

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consolidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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

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