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Consult

v. thoughtful, kind professional

What it means

Meaning 1

To seek another person's informed advice before deciding.

Reach for it when describing a decision process that gives relevant people or experts a real chance to advise

The planners will consult residents before changing the evening bus route.

Meaning 2

To refer to a source in order to obtain information.

Reach for it when describing a purposeful check of a record, guide, or reference

Consult the maintenance log before estimating when the vibration began.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
playful
everyday
professional
formal
  • Consult (this word)

Meaning 1: To seek another person's informed advice before deciding.

  • playful

    sound out

    Fits when an informal preliminary opinion is wanted

    Careful Sounding someone out is private and tentative, not a transparent consultation.

  • everyday

    ask

    Fits when a direct question is all the process requires

    Careful Asking can be perfunctory, with no promise that the answer will influence the choice.

  • professional

    engage

    Fits when ongoing participation extends beyond one question

    Careful Engage is vague institutional language and can conceal one-way communication.

  • professional

    seek advice

    Fits when expert guidance is the explicit purpose

    Careful Advice-seeking is narrower than consulting affected people about lived experience.

  • formal

    confer with

    Fits when people exchange views before action

    Careful Confer suggests a discussion among near-peers and may not fit asking a specialist.

Meaning 2: To refer to a source in order to obtain information.

  • playful

    look up

    Fits when one fact is retrieved informally

    Careful Look up is too narrow for studying a record or comparing several sources.

  • everyday

    check

    Fits when quick verification against a source is enough

    Careful Checking can be cursory and lacks consult's implication of using the source for guidance.

  • everyday

    refer to

    Fits when a named source should be checked

    Careful Referring to a source may mean mentioning it rather than reading it.

Opposites 5

  • ignore
  • dictate
  • guess
  • disregard
  • unilateral action

Common phrases 3

  • consult residents

    The council will consult residents before selecting a permanent entrance.

  • consult with

    Please consult with the duty engineer before restarting the pump.

  • consult the record

    Investigators should consult the record rather than rely on memory.

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Consultation is not shared decision-making unless participants have defined influence over the outcome.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain Updated