consistent
She has been a consistent performer in every competition.
She has always performed at the same high level without variation.
Always behaving or happening in a similar way, not changing or varying.
The company's consistent growth over the years impressed investors.
The company grew steadily without unexpected drops or spikes.
His consistent effort led to his success.
He worked hard in the same way over time, resulting in achievement.
Can describe people, actions, results, or qualities that remain steady.
In agreement or harmony with other facts or principles.
The witness's statement was consistent with the physical evidence.
The witness's account matched the facts observed at the scene.
Commonly used in legal, scientific, or logical contexts to describe coherence.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Do not pair 'consistent' with 'always' or 'constantly'—it already implies regularity. Instead of 'always consistent', say 'consistently good'.
Gold Rule
Use for patterns, not single instances
'Consistent' describes repeated behavior or outcomes over time. It is incorrect to say 'He was consistent in scoring one goal'—use 'He consistently scored one goal' instead.
Word Origin
From Latin *consistens* (standing firm, existing), present participle of *consistere* (to stand still, stop, consist in), from *con-* (together) + *sistere* (to stand). First used in English in the 16th century with meanings of 'standing firm' or 'agreeing'.
Usage Notes
Used to describe things that do not change or that match expectations. Often paired with 'with' to show agreement (e.g., 'consistent with the data'). Avoid overusing in informal contexts where 'steady' or 'reliable' might sound more natural.