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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Consult: Definition, Usage & Example Sentences (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：ask for advice (consult)

consult 🔊

/kənˈsʌlt/

To ask someone for their opinion or advice because they know more about something than you do.

Consult definition: student asking teacher for advice in classroom illustration

ask for advice 🔊

➕

/ɑːsk fɔːr ədˈvaɪs/

To formally seek information, guidance, or an expert opinion from someone with specialized knowledge.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'consultare', meaning 'to deliberate, consider'. The root 'consul-' relates to 'counsel'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'con-' (together) + 'sult' (sounds like 'salt'). You 'consult' someone to *add the salt of their wisdom* to your decision-making 'soup'.

📖 Example

I didn't understand the homework, so I decided to consult my teacher after class. 🔊 I didn't understand the homework, so I decided to ask for advice from my teacher after class.

🔗 Collocations

consult a doctor – To seek professional medical advice from a physician.

consult an expert – To ask for specialized knowledge from a person with deep experience in a field.

consult a dictionary – To look up a word in a reference book to check its meaning or spelling.

🔄 Synonyms

seek advice from (v. phrase) – To actively look for guidance or recommendations.

ask (v.) – A more general term for posing a question.

turn to (v. phrase) – To go to someone for help or information.

🚫 Antonyms

ignore (v.) – To refuse to take notice of or acknowledge.

disregard (v.) – To pay no attention to; to treat as unworthy of consideration.

🌱 Derivatives

consultation (n.) – A meeting to seek advice or to discuss something.

consultant (n.) – A person who provides expert advice professionally.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'consultare' (to deliberate), which itself comes from 'consulere' (to take counsel). This root is shared with 'council' and 'counsel'. In modern professional English, it is a formal cornerstone of decision-making in fields like business, law, and medicine, implying a structured search for expert opinion rather than casual asking.

Meaning 2：discuss with (consult)

consult 🔊

/kənˈsʌlt/

To discuss something with someone before you make a decision together.

Consult meaning: professionals discussing and collaborating in business meeting

discuss with 🔊

➕

/dɪˈskʌs wɪð/

To have a discussion with one or more people before reaching a joint decision or taking action.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The manager will consult with her team before finalizing the new project plan. 🔊 The manager will discuss with her team before finalizing the new project plan.

🔗 Collocations

consult with colleagues – To have a professional discussion with co-workers to gather input.

consult widely – To seek opinions from a broad range of people or groups.

consult the board – To formally discuss a matter with the governing committee of an organization.

🔄 Synonyms

confer with (v. phrase) – To have discussions in order to exchange opinions or seek advice.

deliberate with (v. phrase) – To consider or discuss carefully and often formally.

talk over with (v. phrase) – To discuss something thoroughly with someone.

🚫 Antonyms

decide unilaterally (v. phrase) – To make a choice or judgment by oneself without involving others.

act alone (v. phrase) – To do something independently, without consultation.

🌱 Derivatives

consultative (adj.) – Relating to or intended for consultation; advisory.