reach a consensus

Meaning

To achieve a general agreement or shared opinion among a group of people. This expression is formal and is commonly used in professional, academic, or community decision-making contexts.

Examples

• After hours of intense debate, the committee finally managed to reach a consensus.

  After hours of intense debate, the committee finally managed to reach a consensus.

• It is crucial that we reach a consensus before moving forward with the project.

  It is crucial that we reach a consensus before moving forward with the project.

• The family members struggled to reach a consensus on where to spend the holidays.

  The family members struggled to reach a consensus on where to spend the holidays.

• Despite their differing opinions, the board members reached a consensus on the new policy.

  Despite their differing opinions, the board members reached a consensus on the new policy.

• We hope to reach a consensus by the end of today's meeting.

  We hope to reach a consensus by the end of today's meeting.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They reached to a consensus.

  ✓ They reached a consensus.

  The verb 'reach' does not take the preposition 'to' when followed directly by the noun phrase 'a consensus'.

• ✗ We need to reach a consensus agreement.

  ✓ We need to reach a consensus.

  'Consensus' already means a general agreement, so adding the word 'agreement' after it is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The team spent all afternoon trying to ___ on the budget.

  💡 Arrive at a mutual agreement.

  Show answer

  reach a consensus

• Without active listening, it is impossible to ___.

  💡 Get everyone to agree.

  Show answer

  reach a consensus