con·ti·nen·tal
ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl 
1
a
: 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
2
a
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
1
a
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
Synonyms
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
Rhea Mogul, CNN, 9 Sep. 2023
From there, travelers will board a Eurostar continental train to some of the top ski resorts in Europe, including in Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, and Aime-La Plagne.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
The area gets less than 20 inches of rain a year, on average, about one-third less than the continental United States as a whole — not nearly enough to replace the water being pumped from the ground.
—Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
The $2 billion Rwandan airport that could help African aviation take off
The continental free trade area offers incredible opportunities for Africa, but there are also challenges.
—Nell Lewis, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023
But more data is needed to untangle precisely what that means for the stability of Antarctica's continental ice sheets and the health of its ecosystems, Holmes said.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2023
The worst-case fire scenario that’s played out across the continental United States over recent years—the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, killing 85, and the Tubbs Fire that tore through Santa Rosa, killing 22—is now tropical Hawaii’s problem as well.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 23 Aug. 2023
According to a study from 2010, just one hectare of land in the forest contains more tree species than are native to the continental United States and Canada combined.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
In the warmer months, there’s often not a big contrast in temperature across the continental United States.
—Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023
Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2018
Hosted by enthusiastic young continentals, songs are scored by a combination of dial-in votes from viewers and jurists representing the participating countries.
—Amy Thomson, Bloomberg.com, 24 Apr. 2020
Kenyatta rejected concerns that a free trade deal with the United States would undermine a new continental free trade agreement in Africa aimed at creating the world’s largest common market.
—Tom Odula, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2020
Today, greater migration rates among college graduates often necessitates cross-country, if not cross-continental, travel.
—Wired, 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, 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, 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, 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, 24 Mar. 2018
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Adjective
The African Union is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN, 9 Sep. 2023
From there, travelers will board a Eurostar continental train to some of the top ski resorts in Europe, including in Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, and Aime-La Plagne.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
The area gets less than 20 inches of rain a year, on average, about one-third less than the continental United States as a whole — not nearly enough to replace the water being pumped from the ground.
—Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
The $2 billion Rwandan airport that could help African aviation take off
The continental free trade area offers incredible opportunities for Africa, but there are also challenges.
—Nell Lewis, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023
But more data is needed to untangle precisely what that means for the stability of Antarctica's continental ice sheets and the health of its ecosystems, Holmes said.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2023
The worst-case fire scenario that’s played out across the continental United States over recent years—the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, killing 85, and the Tubbs Fire that tore through Santa Rosa, killing 22—is now tropical Hawaii’s problem as well.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 23 Aug. 2023
According to a study from 2010, just one hectare of land in the forest contains more tree species than are native to the continental United States and Canada combined.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
In the warmer months, there’s often not a big contrast in temperature across the continental United States.
—Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023
Noun
The Earth's crust is divided into dozens of plates, some oceanic, some continental, which move on a plastic mantle underneath.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2018
Hosted by enthusiastic young continentals, songs are scored by a combination of dial-in votes from viewers and jurists representing the participating countries.
—Amy Thomson, Bloomberg.com, 24 Apr. 2020
Kenyatta rejected concerns that a free trade deal with the United States would undermine a new continental free trade agreement in Africa aimed at creating the world’s largest common market.
—Tom Odula, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2020
Today, greater migration rates among college graduates often necessitates cross-country, if not cross-continental, travel.
—Wired, 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, 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, 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, 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, 24 Mar. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'continental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing continental
Dictionary Entries Near continental
Cite this Entry
“Continental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continental. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
continental
1 of 2 adjective
con·ti·nen·tal
ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a continent
continental waters
especially, often capitalized
: of or relating to the continent of Europe
2
often capitalized
: of or relating to the colonies later forming the U.S.
Continental Congress
continental
2 of 2 noun1
a
often capitalized
: a soldier in the Continental army
b
: a piece of paper money issued by the Continental Congress
2
More from Merriam-Webster on continental
Nglish: Translation of continental for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of continental for Arabic Speakers
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