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)
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.
Melt all of that together and you get a veritable News of the Weird headline factory of criminality and oddity that makes the place so very . . . content rich.
From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026
The former “Million Dollar Listing New York” star has amassed more than 10 million followers across social media platforms and built a reputation for using digital content to market luxury properties.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
A free-standing NBCUniversal would likely be seen as an acquisition target, as media companies have been consolidating in an effort to get more content and mass distribution for their streaming services.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
"The only acceptable outcome is victory. Is a brand of football enough? We can never be content with what we are doing," he added.
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026
The Scotts came to the Brookes’ now, and everyone found the little house a cheerful place, full of happiness, content, and family love.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
