contain

verb

con·tain kən-ˈtān

contained; containing; contains

Synonyms of contain next

transitive verb

: to keep within limits: such as

: restrain, control

could hardly contain her enthusiasm

: check, halt

contain the spread of a deadly disease

Firefighters contained the wildfire.

: to follow successfully a policy of containment toward

efforts to contain Communism

: to prevent (an enemy or opponent) from advancing or from making a successful attack

: to have within : hold

The box contains old letters.

: comprise, include

The bill contains several new clauses.

: to be divisible by usually without a remainder

: enclose, bound

intransitive verb

: to restrain oneself

containable

kən-ˈtā-nə-bəl

adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for contain

contain, hold, accommodate mean to have or be capable of having within.

contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.

the can contains a quart of oil

hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

Examples of contain in a Sentence

The room was barely big enough to contain everyone who came to the meeting. The book contains over 200 recipes. The article contains information on how to plan your retirement. foods that contain a high level of fat The movie contains something for both children and adults. State health officials have succeeded in containing the virus.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Larger starter kits frequently contain parts for related projects, and buying one can often be easier than compiling an extensive shopping list. —

Bob Beacham, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024 Investment decisions should not be made solely based on information contained herein. —

Wes Moss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 The mines are contained in a $275 million package of new military assistance announced by the Biden administration Wednesday. —

Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2024 This new edition of The Lamb contains a remastered version of the complete show. —

Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contain

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conteynen, borrowed from Anglo-French cunteign-, cunteyn-, present tense stem of contenir, cuntenir, going back (with conjugation change) to Latin continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents," from con- con- + tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of contain was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contain. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

contain

verb

con·tain kən-ˈtān

: to keep within limits : restrain, check

tried to contain my laughter

the forest fire was finally contained

: to have within

: to consist of : include

: to be divisible by especially without a remainder

20 contains 5

containment

-ˈtān-mənt

noun

Last Updated: 24 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

frugal

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

contain

verb

Synonyms

Examples of contain in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near contain

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition