continent

1 of 2

noun

con·​ti·​nent ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
ˈkänt-nənt
Synonyms of continent
1
a
: one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe
b
Continent : the continent of Europe
—used with the
a tour of the Continent
2
: mainland
3
archaic : container, confines
4
archaic : epitome

continent

2 of 2

adjective

con·​ti·​nent ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
1
: exercising continence
Most children are continent by the age of three.
2
obsolete : restrictive
continently adverb

Synonyms of continent

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Noun

Adjective

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Examples of continent in a Sentence

Noun The book provides information on hotels in Britain and on the Continent. Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent. Adjective Most children are continent by age three. a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But that's changed in recent decades as Europe has become the fastest-warming continent on the planet. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The — this coincides with a continent-wide pandemic or pandemics. — NBC news, 5 July 2026 These time lags are measured in lives lost and more chances for the virus to find new hosts and spread—out of one country and into another, from one continent to another. — Alice Park, Time, 2 July 2026 What’s perhaps not said enough is that the iPhone is an effect of parts and ingenuity sourced by Apple on six different continents. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for continent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(senses 1-2) borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "land forming part of a continuous mass (as opposed to an island)," borrowed from Latin continent-, continens (short for terra continens), from continent-, continens, adjective, "uninterrupted, continuous, forming part of a continuous mass," from present participle of continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents"; (senses 3 & 4) probably borrowed from Medieval Latin continentia "container, content, tenor (of a document)," noun derivative of Latin continent-, continens, present participle of continēre — more at contain

Note: The regular outcome of Medieval Latin continentia following the rules for adopting such nouns in English would have been continence, but as this word was already in use as an abstract noun, writers may have resorted to continent. Note continent in Middle English used by the translator of Chauliac's Grande Chirurgie in the sense "content."

Adjective

Middle English contynent "abstemious, refraining from sexual intercourse," borrowed from Middle French continent, borrowed from Medieval Latin continent-, continens, going back to Latin, "restrained, not indulging in excesses," from present participle of continēre "to hold together, restrain, have as contents" — more at contain

First Known Use

Noun

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of continent was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing continent

Rhymes for continent

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Browse Nearby Words

continence
continent
continental
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Cite this Entry

“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

continent

noun
con·​ti·​nent
ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt, 
ˈkänt-nənt
1
: one of the great divisions of land (as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or Antarctica) on the globe
2
capitalized : the continent of Europe

Medical Definition

continent

adjective
con·​ti·​nent ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
: exercising continence
continently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on continent

Nglish: Translation of continent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about continent

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