contain

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kənˈteɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #5679

Meanings

1

verb
To hold or have something inside.

The brown box contains three stacks of books.
2

verb
To include something as a part.

Most of the meals they offer contain meat.
3

verb
To keep something harmful within limits and stop it from spreading.

Medical workers worked hard to contain the outbreak.
4

verb
To hold back or control a strong emotion.

I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to hold or have something... hold enclose

2 verb · to include something as a... comprise incorporate include

3 verb · to keep something harmful... control check curb

4 verb · to hold back or control a... control restrainhold back

More repress restrict stifle

Opposites

exclude omit release vent

Word family

Forms containedcontainingcontains

Derived forms containeeself-contain

Related forms containablecontainercontainmentcontent continence

Simplified etymology

Contain entered English in the Middle English period and comes ultimately from Latin continere, “hold” or “contain.” The same Latin verb underlies both senses of content.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre (“to hold or keep together, comprise, contain”), combined form of con- (“together”) + teneō (“to hold”).

*ten- Proto-Indo-European contenir Old French continēre Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# contain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kənˈteɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 5679

## Meanings
1. To hold or have something inside.
2. To include something as a part.
3. To keep something harmful within limits and stop it from spreading.
4. To hold back or control a strong emotion.

## Examples
- The brown box contains three stacks of books.
- Most of the meals they offer contain meat.
- Medical workers worked hard to contain the outbreak.
- I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

## Synonyms
- curb
- repress
- restrain
- restrict
- stifle

## Antonyms
- exclude
- omit
- release
- vent

## Derived Forms
- containee
- self-contain

## Related Forms
- containable
- container
- containment
- content
- continence

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: contenir
- Root: continēre

## Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre (“to hold or keep together, comprise, contain”), combined form of con- (“together”) + teneō (“to hold”).

## AI Etymology
contain is a verb. It is from Middle English, borrowed from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre (“to hold or keep together, comprise, contain”), combined form of con- (“together”) + teneō (“to hold”). Historical forms in the chain include *ten- (Proto-Indo-European), contenir (Old French), and continēre (Latin). Current senses include to hold or have something inside, to include something as a part, and to keep something harmful within limits and stop it from spreading. Derived forms include containee and self-contain. Related words include containable, container, containment, and content.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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