continental

con·ti·nen·tal | \ ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl

Definition of continental

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a continent continental waters specifically, often capitalized : of or relating to the continent of Europe excluding the British Isles

b often capitalized : of, relating to, or being a cuisine derived from the classic dishes of Europe and especially France

2a often capitalized : of or relating to the colonies later forming the U.S. Continental Congress

b : being the part of the U.S. on the North American continent also : being the part of the U.S. comprising the lower 48 states

continental

noun

Definition of continental (Entry 2 of 2)

1a often capitalized : an American soldier of the Revolution in the Continental army

b(1) : a piece of Continental paper currency

(2) : the least bit not worth a continental

2 : an inhabitant of a continent and especially the continent of Europe

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Examples of continental in a Sentence

Adjective They will be touring Continental Europe. differences between Britain and its Continental neighbors The hotel combines American comfort with continental elegance. Noun complained that today's youth doesn't care a continental about their elders

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The Air Force today partners with 10 companies that operate homes on 63 bases in the continental United States. — Sig Christenson, ExpressNews.com, "Air Force, firm to revamp mold-infested homes at San Antonio’s Randolph air base," 29 Nov. 2019 There was only one condition for the contest: The winner must live in the continental United States (presumably to cut down on mailing costs for the hefty fowl). — Megan Mccluskey, Time, "Glenn Close Is Sending Her Fans on a Wild Goose Chase to Win an Iconic Movie Prop," 11 Nov. 2019 Though a Mercury transit will occur again in 2032, the next one that will be visible from the continental United States is in 2049. — Denise Chow, NBC News, "Mercury is making a rare 'transit' across the sun. Here's how to watch.," 10 Nov. 2019 If the system is pushed too far out of balance, the forest will cease to be able to regenerate itself and turn into a savanna; a carbon sink nearly the size of the continental United States will become a carbon producer. — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, "Blood Gold in the Brazilian Rain Forest," 4 Nov. 2019 The products were sold in the continental United States and Puerto Rico, and were produced between July and October. — Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, "Nestlé Toll House cookie dough recalled nationwide due to rubber pieces found in dough," 1 Nov. 2019 The maneuvers were conducted off Puerto Rico in the Atlantic some 500 miles southeast of the continental United States. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Weird History of Unidentified Submerged Objects," 9 Oct. 2019 As Alison Fox reports for Travel + Leisure, the map draws on data including precipitation and temperature forecasts, average daylight exposure, and soil moisture to predict the timing of leaves’ color change across the continental United States. — Andrea Michelson, Smithsonian, "This Interactive Map Shows Fall Foliage Predictions Across the U.S.," 9 Oct. 2019 China’s current mainstay missile, the Dongfeng 31, has demonstrated a range of more than 6,990 miles, putting most of the continental United States within reach. — Fox News, "Chinese parade may include glimpse at nuclear-capable missile that could reach US in 30 minutes," 30 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Today, greater migration rates among college graduates often necessitates cross-country, if not cross-continental, travel. — Wired, "The Beautiful Potential of Never-Ending Bachelor Parties," 22 Aug. 2019 Many of these airlines also have different policies for intra-continental, short-haul flights, which are not included here. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "International Basic Economy: How Every Major Airline Compares," 5 July 2018 Organizers of the Asian Games—a pan-continental, multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia—have confirmed eSports will be a demonstration event later this year. — Chris Morris, Fortune, "The IOC Is Another Step Closer to Including Video Games in the Olympics," 28 June 2018 Goals, fame and second-tier continental, as well as league success, came to the Brazilian, who became only the second man to break the world transfer record twice, all before his 21st birthday. — SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 4 Weeks to Go - A Career Overview of Brazil's 2002 World Cup Hero, Ronaldo," 27 May 2018 But the most fun part is spinning the globe itself and watching the unfamiliar continental and oceanic formations of times past. — Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, "Ancient Earth Globe lets you travel back in time for a look at the planet," 24 Mar. 2018 The Confederations Cup is a trophy competed for by the seven current reigning continental or world champions and a host nation, in every odd year following a round of continental tournaments. — SI.com, "FIFA Propose New 'Final 8' World Cup Tournament as Part of the International Football Reform," 2 May 2018 Whatever optimism that remained among American fans was based on a belief that the team’s supposedly better-than-the-continental-competition talent would ultimately prevail. — Eric Betts, Slate Magazine, "Under Bruce Arena, the U.S. men’s national soccer team has transformed from an embarrassment into an aggressive attacking force.," 27 Mar. 2017 Wind drives water at the surface of the shallow continental shelf, at depths of about 300 feet (91 meters), north to water off the shelf, which drops to depths of more than 10,000 feet (3,050 meters). — Washington Post, "Arctic researchers to study wind effects on marine life," 22 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'continental.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near continental

continental breakfast

Continental Celtic

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Last Updated

2 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Continental.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continental. Accessed 14 December 2019.

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More Definitions for continental

continental

adjective