contain

contain

verb

Definition of CONTAIN

1

to have within <the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection>

Synonyms bear, boast, hold

Related Words accommodate, fit, take; case, encase, enclose (also inclose), encompass; harbor, house, lodge, shelter

2

to have as part of a whole <the contract contains several new clauses>

Synonyms carry, comprehend, contain, embrace, encompass, entail, involve, number, subsume, take in

Related Words comprise, consist (of); bracket; have, hold, own, possess; admit, receive; compose, constitute, form, make; assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrate

Near Antonyms ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplace

Antonyms exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit

3

to be made up of <the recipe contains several parts>

Synonyms consist (of), contain, muster

Related Words comprehend, embrace, encompass, entail, include, involve, take in; assimilate, embody, incorporate

4

to gain emotional or mental control of <could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship>

Synonyms calm, compose, contain, control, re-collect, settle

Related Words hold back, restrain; rally, recover; lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

5

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) <frantic efforts to contain the spread of the disease>

Synonyms bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Related Words bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

Antonyms lose