The contents of a container such as a bottle, box, or room are the things that are inside it.
Empty the contents of the pan into the sieve. [+ of]
I emptied the contents of the fridge into carrier bags.
Sandon Hall and its contents will be auctioned by Sotheby's on October 6.
2. uncountable noun
If you refer to the content or contents of something such as a book, speech, or television programme, you are referring to the subject that it deals with, the story that it tells, or the ideas that it expresses.
She is reluctant to discuss the content of the play. [+ of]
We are in the process of reviewing the contents of the report.
The letter's contents were not disclosed.
Synonyms: subject matter, ideas, matter, material More Synonyms of content
3. plural noun
The contents of a book are its different chapters and sections, usually shown in a list at the beginning of the book.
There is no initial list of contents.
4. uncountable noun
The content of something such as an educational course or a programme of action is the elements that it consists of.
Previous students have had nothing but praise for the course content and staff.
This is how we see our tasks, and the substance and content of our work for the forthcomingperiod.
5. singular noun [noun NOUN]
You can use content to refer to the amount or proportion of something that a substance contains.
Sunflower margarine has the same fat content as butter.
He was astonished at the high gold content in the 340 million-year-old rock.
Synonyms: amount, measure, size, load More Synonyms of content
More Synonyms of content
content adjective and verb uses
(kəntent)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense contents, present participle contenting, past tense, past participle contented
If you are contentwith something, you are willing to accept it, rather than wanting something more or something better.
I am content to admire the mountains from below.
I'm perfectly content with the way the campaign has gone. [+ with]
Not content with rescuing one theatre, Sally Green has taken on another. [+ with]
Synonyms: satisfied, happy, pleased, contented More Synonyms of content
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are content, you are fairly happy or satisfied.
He says his daughter is quite content.
3. verb
If you contentyourself with something, you accept it and do not try to do or have other things.
He wisely contented himself with his family and his love of nature. [VERB pronoun-reflexive + with]
Most manufacturers content themselves with updating existing models. [V pron-refl + with/by]
4. to your heart's content
content in British English1
(ˈkɒntɛnt)
noun
1. (often plural)
everything that is inside a container
the contents of a box
2. (usually plural)
a.
the chapters or divisions of a book
b.
a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each
3.
all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance
4.
the information, material, etc presented on a website or other digital medium
5.
the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form
6.
the capacity or size of a thing
7.
the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc
the lead content of petrol
Word origin
C15: from Latin contentus contained, from continēre to contain
content in British English2
(kənˈtɛnt)
adjective(postpositive)
1.
mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
2.
assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc
verb
3. (transitive)
to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfied
to content oneself with property
noun
4.
peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction
exclamation
5. British
(in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content
Derived forms
contently (conˈtently)
adverb
contentment (conˈtentment)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin contentus contented, that is, having restrained desires, from continēre to restrain
content in American English1
(kənˈtɛnt)
adjective
1.
happy enough with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different; satisfied
2.
willing
used in the British House of Lords as an affirmative vote
3. Archaic
pleased
verb transitive
4.
to make content; satisfy
often used reflexively
noun
5.
contentment
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsatisˌfy
Word origin
OFr < L contentus, pp. of continere: see contain
content in American English2
(ˈkɑnˌtɛnt)
noun
1. [usually pl.]
a.
all that is contained in something; everything inside
the contents of a jar, trunk, etc.
b.
all that is contained or dealt with in a writing or speech
a table of contents
2.
a.
all that is dealt with in a course or area of study, work of art, discussion, etc.
b.
essential meaning; substance
the content of a poem as distinguished from its form
3. Rare
a.
a holding power; capacity
b.
volume or area
4.
the amount (of a specified substance) contained
iron with a high carbon content
Word origin
ME < ML contentum (pl. contenta), orig. neut. pp. of L continere: see contain
COBUILD Collocations
content
entire contents
exclusive content
Examples of 'content' in a sentence
content
What is really scary is that you have to accept the content of these classes and workshops.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The assessments warned some low income or low value digital product consumers would stop consuming digital content altogether rather than purchase.
Computing (2010)
You mingle to your heart 's content.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her report is welcome but its contents only make official what we've known for years.
The Sun (2016)
One of the main misconceptions is about the fat content of milk, the spokeswoman claimed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On the legal side, a common problem is stopping people posting content that they don’t have the right to use.
Computing (2010)
Despite having a big collection of bags, the mum of four stopped carrying one six months ago, as she barely used its contents.
The Sun (2016)
We encourage people to report content they find offensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We are content to accept the method chosen independently by the survey.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Higher cocoa content and very good value.
The Sun (2016)
Its reputation for innovation extends right through to course content.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We can also see how the information content of dividends would come about.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
Or you can simply seize on the educational content.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The finding of a small pink flower can make them content for a whole day.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
The party seemed content enough with all this.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Tougher still is the content of the speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are perfectly content to see the board become a legal fiction.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
Or do you remain relaxed and stay as content and happy as you were before the encounter?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Until then he seems content to play the cheerleader in chief.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The pressure should be on manufacturers to reduce sugar content in food.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The one invention that did work was a liquid that when poured on books brought their contents to life.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How much recycled content can be used in the building process and what is the life cycle of that building?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They can then vote to their hearts' content.
The Sun (2009)
This is a great chance for those who missed the game last time around to pick up all the content in one place.
The Sun (2016)
The French were becoming increasingly suspicious of the contents of the bottles they saw in the shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Expert view: Good protein content but fairly high salt.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
content
British English: content /ˈkɒntɛnt/ NOUN
The content of a piece of writing, speech, or television programme is its subject and the ideas expressed in it.
...the letter's contents.
American English: content
Arabic: مُحْتَوًى
Brazilian Portuguese: conteúdo
Chinese: 内容
Croatian: sadržaj
Czech: obsah
Danish: indhold
Dutch: inhoud
European Spanish: contenido
Finnish: sisältö
French: satisfait
German: Inhalt Geschehen beschrieben in einem Buch
Greek: περιεχόμενο
Italian: contenuto
Japanese: 中身
Korean: 내용
Norwegian: innhold
Polish: zawartość
European Portuguese: conteúdo
Romanian: conținut
Russian: содержание
Latin American Spanish: contenido
Swedish: innehåll
Thai: เนื้อหา
Turkish: içerik
Ukrainian: зміст
Vietnamese: nội dung
British English: content /kənˈtent/ ADJECTIVE
happy If you are content, you are happy.
He says his daughter is quite content.
American English: content
Arabic: راضٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: feliz
Chinese: 满意的
Croatian: zadovoljan
Czech: spokojený
Danish: tilfreds
Dutch: tevreden
European Spanish: contento
Finnish: tyytyväinen
French: content
German: glücklich
Greek: σωστός
Italian: contento
Japanese: 幸せな
Korean: 만족하는
Norwegian: tilfreds
Polish: zadowolony
European Portuguese: contente
Romanian: mulțumit
Russian: довольный
Latin American Spanish: contento
Swedish: glad
Thai: พอใจ
Turkish: memnun
Ukrainian: задоволений
Vietnamese: vui vẻ
British English: content ADJECTIVE
satisfied If you are content with something, you are willing to accept it, rather than wanting something more or something better.
I am content to admire the mountains from below.
American English: content
Brazilian Portuguese: contente
Chinese: 满足的
European Spanish: satisfecho
French: content
German: zufrieden
Italian: soddisfatto
Japanese: ～するのをいとわない
Korean: 만족스러워 하는
European Portuguese: contente
Latin American Spanish: satisfecho
All related terms of 'content'
content word
a word to which an independent meaning can be given by reference to a world outside any sentence in which the word may occur
heat content
a thermodynamic property of a system equal to the sum of its internal energy and the product of its pressure and volume
well-content
thoroughly pleased or satisfied
alcohol content
the amount of alcohol that is present in an alcoholic drink
protein content
the amount of protein contained in a substance
content analysis
analysis to determine the meaning, purpose, or effect of any type of communication , as literature , newspapers, or broadcasts , by studying and evaluating the details, innuendoes , and implications of the content , recurrent themes , etc
content curation
the selection , organization, and presentation of (usually) online material, either manually or by a computer program
content provider
A content provider is a company that supplies material such as text , music , or images for use on websites.
exclusive content
If you refer to the content or contents of something such as a book, speech, or television programme , you are referring to the subject that it deals with, the story that it tells , or the ideas that it expresses.
information content
the amount of information in something
blood alcohol content
the amount of alcohol in someone's blood
content-addressable storage
a storage device in which the information is identified by content rather than by an address
scientific content analysis
the close analysis of the content of statements made to the police by suspects in an attempt to identify innocence or guilt
to one's heart's content
as much as one wishes
to your heart's content
If you can do something to your heart's content , you can do it as much as you want .
high-bandwidth digital content protection
a specification for the encryption of digital content during processing