content
1 Americannoun
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Usually contents.
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something that is contained.
the contents of a box.
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the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
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the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document.
a table of contents.
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something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts.
a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.
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significance or profundity; meaning.
a clever play that lacks content.
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substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.
publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.
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that which may be perceived in something.
the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
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Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.
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power of containing; holding capacity.
The bowl's content is three quarts.
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volume, area, or extent; size.
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the amount contained.
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Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).
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Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.
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any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.
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adjective
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satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
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British. agreeing; assenting.
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Archaic. willing.
verb (used with object)
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contents,
present (3rd person singular)
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contented,
past participle, past
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contenting
present participle
noun
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the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment.
His content was threatened.
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(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
noun
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(often plural) everything that is inside a container
the contents of a box
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(usually plural)
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the chapters or divisions of a book
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a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each
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the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form
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all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance
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the capacity or size of a thing
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the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc
the lead content of petrol
adjective
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mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
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assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc
verb
noun
interjection
Synonym Usage
See satisfy.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contentsimple
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contentssimple
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have contentedperfect
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has contentedperfect
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am contentingprogressive
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are contentingprogressive
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is contentingprogressive
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have been contentingperfect progressive
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has been contentingperfect progressive
Past
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contentedsimple
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had contentedperfect
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was contentingprogressive
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were contentingprogressive
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had been contentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of content1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre “to contain”), equivalent to con- “with, together” + ten- “hold” + -tus past participle suffix; see con-
Origin of content2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin contentus “satisfied,” special use of past participle of continēre; see content 1
Explanation
If you feel content, you're satisfied and happy. The content of a book, movie, or song is what it's about: the topic. This word has two main meanings. The first has to do with being pleased and satisfied (feeling content) or making someone else feel happy and at peace with things (contenting them). The other meaning has to do with subject matter: the content of a history class might be American history. The content of a math class might be geometry. As long as there's a topic or subject, there's content.
Vocabulary lists containing content
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They will also be held directly responsible for protecting under-18s from pornography, online bullying, content that glorifies crime, and content that encourages eating disorders.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
However, it said its terms did not permit customers to resell its training content to individuals who were not employees.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
That began in 2022 with using AI for marketing and creating content, to eventually using AI for its operations, Cook said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
In an article, they note that the definition used in the measure hews closely to another section of California law, which distinguishes providing internet services from offering content, services and applications online.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
The Freedmen were a Muscogee Nation–level issue and climate change was a global one—bigger than the scope of a group of teenagers working together to create short-format video content.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
After being allowed to return home, the pair saw the van doors had been "blown off" and their contents emptied, with water butts and oil drums strewn on the ground.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
“The contents of this call are on background, attributable to a senior administration official.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sharma said she had not read the contents of the OpenAI chats.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
The contents do not represent the views of the US Department of Veterans Affairs or the US Government.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
Amid much rejoicing, the crews of the three small boats raised sail and forged ahead, spray breaking over their bows and freezing on the men and all the contents of the boats.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
It’s a quiet, contented life, “solid and safe,” Livia says, except that she remains disturbed by traumas from her youth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
More Europeans are wondering how contented they truly are.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
And it is not hard to find contented heat pump customers.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2026
Rather, that contented knowing seasons the confidence with which O’Hara shaped all of her women, whether mothers or, like Patty Leigh in “The Studio,” mother figures.
From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026
The out-of-state newcomer, rich and headstrong, contented herself with luxury and even less of their company.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Verstappen has reeled off four consecutive podium finishes and won three of the last four Austin races, only missing out last year when Ferrari claimed a one-two, contenting himself instead with a sprint race win.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
By 2020, Zawahiri had become increasingly distant, contenting himself to write books and essays and only rarely appearing on video.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 1, 2022
He’s been playing it safe in Brooklyn, contenting himself with his Ma, his girlfriend and a modest managerial job at Starbucks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2020
When it comes to choosing a companion for life we should none of us be contenting ourselves with bare bones; in matters of the heart there really are plenty more fish in the sea.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 14, 2016
In 1233 we find Gregory IX. contenting himself with prescribing perpetual imprisonment for such cases, which he speaks of as being already numerous.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Henry Charles Lea
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
