Consolidate: meaning, definitions and examples

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consolidate

[kənˈsɒlɪdeɪt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

business

To combine several things into a single more effective or coherent whole.

Synonyms

combine, merge, unify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
consolidate	Typically used in business or finance when discussing the process of making something stronger or more solid, often by bringing different elements together. It can also mean to make something more coherent or stronger. The company decided to consolidate its debts to make financial management easier She worked hard to consolidate her position in the team
merge	Commonly used in business and technology when two entities come together to become one. It often implies a process where distinct elements blend seamlessly into one entity, sometimes keeping distinct elements intact. The two tech firms agreed to merge their operations When the river merges with the ocean, it forms a delta
unify	Usually used when talking about bringing different parts or people together to form a single coherent whole, often emphasizing harmony and agreement. Frequently seen in political, social, or emotional contexts. The new leader aims to unify the country after years of division They tried to unify their different approaches to create a more cohesive plan
combine	Appropriate in general contexts when talking about putting different things together to form a whole. It has a broad usage and is suitable for less formal situations. Let's combine our resources to complete the project faster The recipe combines various spices to create a unique flavor

Examples of usage

Let's consolidate all our debts into one loan.
The company decided to consolidate its various departments into one unified team.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

finance

To strengthen a company's financial position by reducing debt or increasing assets.

Synonyms

bolster, fortify, strengthen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
consolidate	Used when you want to combine multiple elements into a single more effective or stronger unit. Often used in business, finance, and politics. The company decided to consolidate its various branches into a single headquarters. After the merger, they worked hard to consolidate their market position.
strengthen	A general term for making something stronger or more powerful. It is applicable in a variety of contexts including physical, emotional, and structural strengthening. Regular exercise can strengthen your muscles. They implemented new policies to strengthen the workforce.
fortify	Often used when referring to physical strengthening or adding defenses. Can also be used metaphorically for emphasizing strengthening resolve or defenses. They decided to fortify the city walls against potential invaders. He took vitamins to fortify his immune system.
bolster	Used to describe offering support or strengthening something, particularly in terms of morale, confidence, or arguments. It can be used in both personal and professional settings. She brought in expert testimonies to bolster her argument. The coach's pep talk bolstered the team's confidence before the big game.

Examples of usage

The company plans to consolidate its financial standing by selling off non-core assets.
In order to consolidate its position in the market, the company decided to reduce its debt.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

technology

To centralize multiple systems or processes into a single unified system or process.

Synonyms

centralize, integrate, streamline.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
consolidate	Consolidate is best used when you are bringing together multiple elements into a single, stronger, or more coherent unit. This often applies in business contexts such as merging departments or combining financial statements. We need to consolidate our resources to improve efficiency. The company decided to consolidate all its branch operations into the main office.
centralize	Centralize is used when you are bringing control or authority to a single, central point. This is common in organizational contexts where decision-making or management is being concentrated in one location or team. The headquarters aims to centralize all customer service functions to streamline operations. By centralizing our IT systems, we can ensure better data security.
streamline	Streamline is best used when you are simplifying a process or making something more efficient by eliminating unnecessary steps. It often applies to workflows, production methods, or business practices aimed at reducing complexity and increasing efficiency. We must streamline our production line to reduce costs. The new policy helps streamline the approval process, making it quicker.
integrate	Integrate is suitable when you are combining components or systems so that they work together effectively as a whole. It is often used in technology, social, or organizational contexts where interoperability and synergy are important. We need to integrate the new software with our existing system. It's important to integrate new employees into the team smoothly.

Examples of usage

The IT department aims to consolidate all servers into a cloud-based system.
The software update will consolidate the different functions into a more streamlined process.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'consolidare', meaning 'to make firm or solid'.
It is a combination of 'con-', meaning 'together', and 'solidus', which means 'solid'.
The term evolved in English from the mid-17th century, reflecting its current meaning of combining and strengthening.

Business & Economics

In business, companies often consolidate to increase efficiency, reduce competition, and improve financial strength.
Consolidation can lead to mergers, where two companies join and operate as one.
It often reduces costs by eliminating duplicate operations and resources.

Psychology

In psychology, consolidation refers to the process of strengthening memories, making them more stable for long-term retention.
Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, where new information is solidified during rest.
Revisiting learned material can enhance the consolidation process, reinforcing connections in the brain.

Education

Students often consolidate their knowledge before exams by summarizing or organizing their study materials.
Group study can help the consolidation process, as discussing topics can clarify and solidify understanding.
Using visual aids like mind maps can effectively consolidate complex information.

Technology

In computing, data consolidation involves combining data from different sources into a single, coherent dataset.
Cloud storage solutions often provide a means to consolidate files, making them easily accessible across multiple devices.
Database systems also use consolidation to optimize performance, reducing redundancy and improving data retrieval.

Translations

Translations of the word "consolidate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 consolidar

🇮🇳 समेकित करना

🇩🇪 konsolidieren

🇮🇩 mengonsolidasikan

🇺🇦 консолідувати

🇵🇱 konsolidować

🇯🇵 統合する (とうごうする)

🇫🇷 consolider

🇪🇸 consolidar

🇹🇷 konsolide etmek

🇰🇷 통합하다 (통합하다)

🇸🇦 دمج

🇨🇿 konsolidovat

🇸🇰 konsolidovať

🇨🇳 巩固 (gǒnggù)

🇸🇮 konsolidirati

🇮🇸 sameina

🇰🇿 біріктіру

🇬🇪 კონსოლიდაცია

🇦🇿 konsolidasiya etmək

🇲🇽 consolidar

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,846 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

...
9843 especial
9844 wins
9845 moth
9846 consolidate
9847 incremental
9848 anode
9849 notch
...