container
Americannoun
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an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc
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a large cargo-carrying standard-sized container that can be loaded from one mode of transport to another
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( as modifier )
a container port
a container ship
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of container
1400–50 for an earlier sense; 1495–1505 container for def. 1; late Middle English conteiner; see contain, -er 1
Explanation
A container holds things inside it. Bags, boxes, buckets, and pockets are all containers. The purpose of a container is to carry, hold, or store something. You might buy nuts at the grocery store, then bring them home and put them in a container, or you could put your leftover pasta in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for tomorrow's lunch. The thing all containers have in common is that they contain, or hold, things. Both words are rooted in the Latin continere, "to hold together or enclose."
Vocabulary lists containing container
"Earth and Space"
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"Introduction to Homeland Security," Vocabulary from Chapter 6
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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:
Maritime Trade Operations separately issued warnings Wednesday about two container ships struck by unidentified projectiles while traveling across the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The last ship that sank was Malta-flagged container vessel Safeen Prestige in early March.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The Guards released photos that appeared to show a plume of black smoke rising from a container vessel that was still afloat but down by the stern.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
It handled nearly 920,000 container units in August, 2% higher than a year earlier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
But before Chin can answer, Ms. Cherry drops the container and screams.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
They did not find any drugs, but vipers, rattlesnakes and other species of snakes and lizards, including iguanas, hidden in shampoo and cream bottles, plastic containers and balls of socks.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
It said the vessel was carrying 2,500 containers of contraband and which had crossed by what it described as an “authorized and dangerous” route.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The port’s record September — totalling 1,042,652 containers — also represents the most volume ever moved through any port in the Western Hemisphere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Makeshift barriers formed from shipping containers and razor wire to block traffic to Peshawar's administrative zone remained in place.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
And there were containers of wet wipes all over the place.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
