To consist of something means to be made up of it or composed of it. When you say a pizza consists of crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings, you're describing all the parts that come together to make the whole pizza.

A soccer team consists of eleven players on the field. Your school day consists of different classes, lunch, and recess. A deck of cards consists of 52 cards divided into four suits. The word helps you explain what ingredients, parts, or pieces form something larger.

You'll often see consist used with the word “of”: a book consists of chapters, a year consists of twelve months, a symphony orchestra consists of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion sections. Each time, you're identifying the components that make up the complete thing.

Consist is similar to “comprise” or “is composed of,” but it's more common in everyday speech. When a teacher says your final grade consists of homework, quizzes, and tests, she's telling you exactly which elements combine to create that grade. Understanding what something consists of helps you see how its parts work together to form the whole.