container
noun
con·tain·er
kən-ˈtā-nər 
: one that contains: such as
a
: a receptacle (such as a box or jar) for holding goods
b
: a portable compartment in which freight is placed (as on a train or ship) for convenience of movement
Examples of container in a Sentence
The tea leaves come in a small metal container.
bowls, boxes, jars, and other containers
The shipment of tools arrived at the dock in cargo containers yesterday.
Recent Examples on the Web
An early pioneer of the warehouse-as-museum, the Geffen Contemporary, as it’s now called, has proved to be the ideal container for exhibitions that would be difficult to stage anywhere else.
—
Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025
Such a deal would combine the fifth and 10th largest container shipping firms worldwide by market share of 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to industry research database Alphaliner.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Dec. 2025
Make sure that the bottom tip of each stem cutting is submerged in the water, and then move the container with cuttings onto a windowsill or other sunny location that receives bright, indirect light.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Plan to repot the plant into a container that’s about 2 inches larger than the current one in the spring.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for container
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Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025
Such a deal would combine the fifth and 10th largest container shipping firms worldwide by market share of 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to industry research database Alphaliner.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Dec. 2025
Make sure that the bottom tip of each stem cutting is submerged in the water, and then move the container with cuttings onto a windowsill or other sunny location that receives bright, indirect light.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
Plan to repot the plant into a container that’s about 2 inches larger than the current one in the spring.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for container
Cite this Entry
“Container.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/container. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
container
noun
con·tain·er
kən-ˈtā-nər
: one that contains
especially
: something into which other things can be put (as for storage)
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