contain
verb
con·tain kən-ˈtān 
contained; containing; contains
transitive verb
1
: to keep within limits: such as
a
: restrain, control
could hardly contain her enthusiasm
b
: check, halt
contain the spread of a deadly disease
Firefighters contained the wildfire.
c
: to follow successfully a policy of containment toward
efforts to contain Communism
d
: to prevent (an enemy or opponent) from advancing or from making a successful attack
2
a
: to have within : hold
The box contains old letters.
b
: comprise, include
The bill contains several new clauses.
3
a
: to be divisible by usually without a remainder
b
: enclose, bound
intransitive verb
: to restrain oneself
containable
kən-ˈtā-nə-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- bear
- boast
- hold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The room was barely big enough to contain everyone who came to the meeting. The book contains over 200 recipes. The article contains information on how to plan your retirement. foods that contain a high level of fat The movie contains something for both children and adults. State health officials have succeeded in containing the virus. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Plug-in hybrids contain both a small battery and a combustion engine and are considered new energy vehicles that would qualify for tax exemptions and subsidies in most places. 
Selina Cheng, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The new bivalent vaccines contain a lower dose of mRNA, and as such are meant to be used only as boosters and not in people who have never received a COVID-19 vaccination. Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 1 Sep. 2022 Recipes contain five ingredients or less and come with grocery lists. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 30 Aug. 2022 Further, nearly all homes contain varying degrees of particulate matter and what are called volatile organic compounds, both of which can trigger asthma attacks. jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2022 These vials no longer contain live virus, but the technology now exists to sequence the fragments of viral DNA that remain. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2022 Every row, column and box must contain the numbers one through nine, no repeats. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 And in comparing it to another umami-rich seasoning, MSG, nooch does not contain any sodium and can be used in larger quantities. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 Cuba struggled for a third day Sunday to contain a fire at a sprawling fuel depot on the northern coast that has left hundreds injured, at least one dead and cast a shadow over the island’s already struggling economy. Jim Wyss, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 See More
Selina Cheng, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The new bivalent vaccines contain a lower dose of mRNA, and as such are meant to be used only as boosters and not in people who have never received a COVID-19 vaccination. Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 1 Sep. 2022 Recipes contain five ingredients or less and come with grocery lists. Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Good Housekeeping, 30 Aug. 2022 Further, nearly all homes contain varying degrees of particulate matter and what are called volatile organic compounds, both of which can trigger asthma attacks. jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2022 These vials no longer contain live virus, but the technology now exists to sequence the fragments of viral DNA that remain. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2022 Every row, column and box must contain the numbers one through nine, no repeats. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 And in comparing it to another umami-rich seasoning, MSG, nooch does not contain any sodium and can be used in larger quantities. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 Cuba struggled for a third day Sunday to contain a fire at a sprawling fuel depot on the northern coast that has left hundreds injured, at least one dead and cast a shadow over the island’s already struggling economy. Jim Wyss, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English conteynen, borrowed from Anglo-French cunteign-, cunteyn-, present tense stem of contenir, cuntenir, going back (with conjugation change) to Latin continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents," from con- con- + tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" — more at tenant entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
contain
verb
con·tain kən-ˈtān
contained; containing
1
: to have within : hold
The box contained some old books.
2
: to consist of or include
The building contains classrooms.
3
: to keep within limits : restrain, check
The fire was contained.
I tried to contain my anger.
contain
verb
1
as in to hold
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hold
- boast
- encompass
- house
- bear
- enclose
- accommodate
- take
- fit
- case
- encase
- harbor
- inclose
- shelter
- lodge
2
as in to include
to have as part of a whole the contract contains several new clauses Synonyms & Similar Words
- include
- encompass
- involve
- carry
- entail
- comprise
- subsume
- number
- comprehend
- embrace
- take in
- receive
- possess
- incorporate
- have
- constitute
- embody
- hold
- own
- form
- compose
- integrate
- bracket
- admit
- consist (of)
- assimilate
- make
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prevent
- exclude
- omit
- preclude
- leave (out)
- prohibit
- eliminate
- refuse
- deny
- miss out
- reject
- ban
- bar
- except
- lose
- debar
- rule out
- misplace
- mislay
3
as in to comprise
to be made up of the recipe contains several parts Synonyms & Similar Words
- comprise
- include
- encompass
- involve
- muster
- entail
- incorporate
- embody
- consist (of)
- comprehend
- take in
- assimilate
- embrace
4
as in to compose
to gain emotional or mental control of could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship Synonyms & Similar Words
- compose
- restrain
- calm
- collect
- control
- re-collect
- recover
- settle
- hold back
- still
- soothe
- rally
- lull
- quiet
- tranquilize
- tranquillize
5
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) frantic efforts to contain the spread of the disease Synonyms & Similar Words
- regulate
- control
- restrain
- keep
- curb
- suppress
- stifle
- measure
- hold
- tame
- inhibit
- constrain
- govern
- check
- rule
- pull in
- stop
- swallow
- bridle
- repress
- smother
- rein (in)
- muffle
- squelch
- interrupt
- hold back
- impede
- hinder
- obstruct
- block
- hamper
- mince
- strangle
- pocket
- silence
- sink
- arrest
- choke (back)
- handcuff
- bottle (up)
- muzzle
- gag
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose
- liberate
- express
- loosen
- loose
- unleash
- take out
- vent
- air
Synonym Chooser
The words accommodate and hold are common synonyms of contain. While all three words mean "to have or be capable of having within," contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.
the can contains a quart of oil
The meanings of accommodate and contain largely overlap; however, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.
the hall can accommodate 500 people
While in some cases nearly identical to contain, hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.
the bookcase will hold all my textbooks