contain

verb

con·​tain kən-ˈtān 

contained; containing; contains

transitive verb

1

a

: to have within : hold

The box contains old letters.

b

: comprise, include

The bill contains several new clauses.

2

: to keep within limits: such as

a

: restrain, control

could hardly contain her enthusiasm

b

: check, halt

contain the spread of a deadly disease

Firefighters contained the wildfire.

c

: to follow successfully a policy of containment toward

efforts to contain Communism

d

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

3

a

: to be divisible by usually without a remainder

b

: enclose, bound

intransitive verb

: to keep oneself under control

When I saw them after so many years, I could hardly contain myself. [=control my feelings]

containable

kən-ˈtā-nə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of contain

• hold
• boast

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

So what would a singular night of targeted and contained US military action look like? —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026

In his report, also shared with the governor’s office, Ethridge said flight operations contained critical safety gaps including no documentation that the aviation unit was compliant with FAA standards, and that flights took place when conditions were unsafe. —Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026

Suffolk County police responded to the scene and recovered the handgun along with a gray fanny pack containing ammunition. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026

Foremost, there is the recent play of starting center Bam Adebayo, who simply proved too fleet and agile for Vucevic to contain Thursday night, closing with 20 points and 12 rebounds. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026

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 2

Rhymes for contain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

contain

verb

con·​tain kən-ˈtān 

1

: to keep within limits : restrain, check

tried to contain my laughter

the forest fire was finally contained

2

: to have within

3

: to consist of : include

4

: to be divisible by especially without a remainder

20 contains 5

containment

-ˈtān-mənt

noun