consumed my time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'consumed my time' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
The phrase is usually used as a way of expressing that something took a lot of time, effort, or resources. For example: "Preparing the presentation consumed my time, but it was worth it in the end".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It has really consumed my time.

The New York Times

Going to three farmers' markets a week, making the occasional restaurant delivery, keeping the farm stand stocked, responding to emails, filing paperwork, and advertising consumed my time.

Huffington Post

But I was also faced with the immense (and even more immediate) task of getting my health-care needs in order, too--radiation, chemo therapy and surgery--and it was the latter that consumed my time, energy and focus.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The game consumes my time.

TechCrunch

"It gave me an outlet, a way to consume my time.

Huffington Post

The point is, I'd much rather have my time consumed making my own bread outdoors than kill it watching some reality TV show in a so-called "living" room.

The Guardian

But, it didn't fulfill me and it consumed my life and my time.

Huffington Post

It has consumed my life in that time and I would not have had it any other way; I have made great friends and met some incredible people.

Independent

Transport Tycoon consumed my life for a long time, too.

Vice

I completed a second clerkship, but by then my addiction consumed all my time.

The New York Times

It consumed all my time".

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consumed my time" when you want to emphasize that something not only took time, but also potentially energy or focus. It's stronger than saying something "took my time".

Common error

Avoid using "consumed my time" too frequently, as it can sound overly dramatic. In less significant situations, consider using simpler phrases like "took my time" or "occupied my time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consumed my time" functions as a statement indicating that a particular activity or task required a significant amount of the speaker's or writer's time. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "consumed my time" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that indicates a significant investment of time in a particular activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is often found in News & Media contexts and serves to emphasize the extent to which something occupied one's schedule or attention. While perfectly correct and easily understandable, be mindful of overusing it, which can make your writing style sound too melodramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took up my time

Replaces "consumed" with "took up", a more common and slightly less intense way of expressing that something used time.

occupied my time

Uses "occupied" instead of "consumed", suggesting that the time was filled or engaged by something.

filled my time

Similar to "occupied my time", but emphasizes the completeness of the time usage.

absorbed my time

Implies that the time was used in a way that fully engaged attention or energy.

engrossed my time

Suggests that something captured attention to the extent that it consumed time.

monopolized my time

Indicates that something dominated the available time, leaving little for other activities.

dominated my time

Similar to "monopolized my time", highlighting the control something had over the time.

required a lot of my time

More explicitly states that a significant amount of time was needed for something.

demanded my time

Emphasizes the demanding nature of whatever used the time, suggesting it was necessary or urgent.

ate up my time

Uses a more casual expression, "ate up", to convey that something used time, often unexpectedly or undesirably.

FAQs

What does "consumed my time" mean?

The phrase "consumed my time" means that something used a significant amount of your time, often to the point where it felt like it took over your schedule or attention. It implies a substantial investment of time in a particular activity or task.

What can I say instead of "consumed my time"?

You can use alternatives like "took up my time", "occupied my time", or "filled my time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "consumed my time" or "took my time"?

"Consumed my time" and "took my time" are both correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Consumed my time" suggests a more substantial or impactful use of time, while "took my time" is a more neutral statement about time usage.

How to use "consumed my time" in a sentence?

You can use "consumed my time" in a sentence like this: "The project consumed my time for the last three months, but it was worth it."