contain

American  

[kuhn-teyn] / kənˈteɪn /

verb (used with object)

1. to hold or include within its volume or area.

   This glass contains water.

   This paddock contains our best horses.

2. to be capable of holding; have capacity for.

   The room will contain 75 persons safely.

3. to have as contents or constituent parts; comprise; include.

   Synonyms:

   embrace, embody

4. to keep under proper control; restrain.

   He could not contain his amusement.

5. to prevent or limit the expansion, influence, success, or advance of (a hostile nation, competitor, opposing force, natural disaster, etc.).

   to contain an epidemic.

6. to succeed in preventing the spread of.

   efforts to contain water pollution.

7. Mathematics. (of a number) to be a multiple of; be divisible by, without a remainder.

   Ten contains five.

8. to be equal to.

   A quart contains two pints.

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contain British  

/ kənˈteɪn /

verb

1. to hold or be capable of holding or including within a fixed limit or area

   this contains five pints

2. to keep (one's feelings, behaviour, etc) within bounds; restrain

3. to consist of; comprise

   the book contains three different sections

4. military to prevent (enemy forces) from operating beyond a certain level or area

5. maths

   1. to be a multiple of, leaving no remainder

      6 contains 2 and 3

   2. to have as a subset

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Related Words

Contain, accommodate, hold, express the idea that something is so designed that something else can exist or be placed within it. Contain refers to what is actually within a given container. Hold emphasizes the idea of keeping within bounds; it refers also to the greatest amount or number that can be kept within a given container. Accommodate means to contain comfortably or conveniently, or to meet the needs of a certain number. A passenger plane that accommodates 50 passengers may be able to hold 60, but at a given time may contain only 30.

Other Word Forms

• containable
  adjective
• precontain
  verb (used with object)
• uncontainable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of contain

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English conte(y)nen, from Anglo-French contener, Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, equivalent to con- con- + -tinēre, verb suffix of tenēre “to hold” ( see tenet)

Explanation

The verb contain has many shades of meaning but it often describes something that's held back or held in by something. Kids on the last day of school may find it hard to contain their glee when summer officially starts. Picture Times Square on New Year's Eve. People can barely contain — or hold back — their excitement at being there. They clutch cups that contain — or hold — hot drinks that help them stay warm. The police set up barriers to contain — or restrain — the crowd to keep everyone under control. The next morning, the heaps of trash on the street will contain — or include — streamers, party hats, and cups.

Example Sentences

Health authorities, airlines and the operator of the MV Hondius cruise ship are mobilizing to contain the spread of a pathogen that has killed three people.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Positive test results from the first patient Weyer encountered set the wheels in motion for the global effort to identify and contain a potential outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The recalled potato chips were seasoned in a dry milk powder sourced from a California dairy cooperative that may contain salmonella, the FDA said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

"Action will be taken if the reports contain sufficient evidence of a crime and it is in the public interest to do so," it said.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Page after page of the minutes of the early years of the Royal contain variations on the themes of ‘Mr Hooke produced...’

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• accommodate
• consist of
• enclose
• encompass
• have
• incorporate
• involve