1 C1 formal
To have its essential nature or most important quality in something; to be fundamentally defined by something.
"True leadership does not consist in giving orders, but in inspiring others to act."
inseparable
consist in
C1 formal inseparable transitive
To have as its essential or defining feature; to be fundamentally characterised by something.
In plain English
To be mainly about or defined by a particular quality or thing.
What does "consist in" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Much less common than 'consist of'. Used mainly in formal, philosophical, or academic writing to describe the essential nature of something. Always followed by a noun, gerund, or noun phrase describing an abstract quality. Not used in everyday conversation.
Words that pair with "consist in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
happiness virtue meaning essence strength truth
How to conjugate "consist in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
consist in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
consists in
he/she/it
Past simple
consisted in
yesterday
Past participle
consisted in
have + pp
-ing form
consisting in
continuous
Hear "consist in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "consist in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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