contain

verb

kən-ˈtān How to pronounce contain (audio)
Definition of containnext
1
as in to hold
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to include
to have as part of a whole the contract contains several new clauses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to comprise
to be made up of the recipe contains several parts

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word contain different from other verbs like it?

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

Where would accommodate be a reasonable alternative to contain?

The meanings of accommodate and contain largely overlap; however, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

When is it sensible to use hold instead of contain?

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of contain The museum, whose collection contains 5,000 works, has an endowment of about $23 million, per its 2024 financial statements. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 19 May 2026 The outbreak was also undetected for weeks, adding to the complexities in containing it. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 May 2026 The collapsed building in the historic Wilhelminian style contained rental and vacation apartments, police said. —ABC News, 19 May 2026 According to the Minnesota Incident Command System, the Flanders Fire is now nearly 60% contained. —Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for contain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contain
  1. hold
  2. include
  3. comprise
  4. compose
  5. regulate
  6. boast
  7. involve
  8. calm
Verb
  • The Ravens held minicamp in April — the first under Minter — and Jackson was in attendance.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2026
  • The arrest was made in coordination with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), which holds an arrest warrant for charges related to a 1986 homicide in Virginia Beach, Newington police said in a media release.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Elliott Management's exposure is £200 million, while Jefferies has a total exposure of about £103 million, which already includes a $20 million loss.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 18 May 2026
  • In neighboring Uganda, officials said laboratory results confirmed two cases in the capital of Kampala − including one death − among people traveling from Congo with no apparent link to each other.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Definition of include
Verb
  • These former officials now comprise the nonpartisan EEO Leaders organization, which analyzes Administration actions impacting equal employment opportunity.
    — Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • The massive stage comprised three ramps extending the length of a football field that were frequently alight in a Candyland of colors and two oversized video screens flanking a metallic structure that looked like an inverted ski jump.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Definition of comprise
Verb
  • That song was actually composed by someone from Street Mob from Ensenada.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Such stars are the key quarry that JWST was designed for—stellar orbs composed of the pristine, primordial hydrogen and helium gas that was summoned into being by the big bang.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
Definition of compose
Verb
  • Earlier this year the company released a REST API that lets regulated financial platforms bolt blockchain wallet functionality onto their existing products.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • Indeed, sodium is one of the body’s key electrolytes – a group of minerals that help regulate fluid balance and other important functions.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • Best of all, the suit boasts built-in UPF 50 sun protection.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Located in midtown, the park boasts nearly 200 acres of green space, walking trails, recreational sport facilities and a lake with a fishing dock.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2026
Definition of boast
Verb
  • Another task involved answering elementary school questions with a giant pencil, and the final showdown was over a Plinko-esque game with specialized chips.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
  • The patrol gave no cause for the crash, but noted the roads were wet and said alcohol is not suspected to be a factor for anyone involved.
    — Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Definition of involve
Verb
  • Its deep celestial blue translates into a sophisticated, calming backdrop for the home, working across coastal designs and modern interiors alike.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
  • After the explosive energy of the first two tracks, things calm way down.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
Definition of calm

Browse Nearby Words

contagium
contain
contained
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contain. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on contain

Nglish: Translation of contain for Spanish Speakers

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