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as in to hold
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to compose
to gain emotional or mental control of could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word contain different from other verbs like it?

The words accommodate and hold are common synonyms of contain. While all three words 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

Where would accommodate be a reasonable alternative to contain?

The meanings of accommodate and contain largely overlap; however, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

When is it sensible to use hold instead of contain?

While in some cases nearly identical to contain, hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contain Tempest’s book contains at least two Thuillier images: group shots of the Sixth in 1916, before the Battle of the Somme. Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025 But the binders contained information that had largely already been in the public domain. arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025 The memo also contains a link to about 11 hours of footage of Epstein in his cell released as proof of his suicide—which quickly faced more scrutiny after viewers realized about a minute of footage was missing. Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 The protein in quinoa contains all the essential amino acids needed for healthy muscles and bones. Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for contain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contain
Verb
  • And believe it or not, plenty are genuinely comfortable, holding their own against traditional footwear.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • The show will be held Wednesday (July 16) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Nwigwe, joined by David Michael Wyatt, is set to perform the In Memoriam tribute.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The Chateauroux finish was a favourite of Mark Cavendish’s — three of his record total of 35 stage victories in this race came there, including his very first.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • The main characters include mischievous cats, cute ghosts, creepy spiders, and traditional jack-'o-lanterns.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 15 July 2025
  • What To Know According to photos shared by a Japanese aircraft spotter on X (formerly Twitter) and a report by Japanese media, a group of four U.S. Air Force fighter jets comprising a pair of F-15EX jets, an F-15E jet and an F-16C jet—arrived at Kadena Air Base on Saturday.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • If folks will volunteer, it can be composed of two- or three-member teams of neighbors patrolling, if possible, at the approximate times these crimes are occurring.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2025
  • The two songwriters also composed pitch-perfect theme songs for two sitcoms that debuted within a year of each other – Bewitched (1964) and Gidget (1965).
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • These entities have proliferated ever since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, which effectively struck down longtime campaign finance regulations that sought to limit and regulate spending on political campaigns.
    M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Some people may become less empathetic, while others may have a hard time regulating their emotions.
    Janelle McSwiggin, Health, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • The special also boasts on-site staff — a manager, security personnel and a staffed coat check — and, to sweeten the deal, there is no clean-up required on the newlyweds’ behalf.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Unveiled at Palazzo Balbi in Venice on Tuesday, the medals boast a sleek aesthetic reflecting the country’s legacy in avant-garde design.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Securing container platforms involves such activities as scanning images, validating configurations and simulating attacks.
    Margarita Simonova, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Upon arrival, officers found a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle, LMPD spokesperson Aaron Ellis said in a statement.
    Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Firemen in their command center calm the fears of the locals who call in, law enforcement tracks down tomb robbers, while in the port of Torre Annunziata, Syrian tankers unload Ukrainian grain.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 July 2025
  • Jorgenson is not one of those — for him, the preparation itself is calming.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contain. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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