1
as in to hold
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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 This post contains minor spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2. Nearly 30 years ago, Christopher McDonald left an indelible mark on pop culture with his performance as smarmy professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 sports comedy classic Happy Gilmore. Megan McCluskey, Time, 25 July 2025 Her rental car, containing her suitcase and all of her belongings, is towed. Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 25 July 2025 When a reporter asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation on Tuesday, President Donald Trump could not contain himself a moment longer. Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025 But complexity theorists suspect that PSPACE is a much larger class, containing many problems that aren’t in P. Ben Brubaker, Wired News, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for contain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contain
Verb
  • And believe it or not, plenty are genuinely comfortable, holding their own against traditional footwear.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Dreck is intended to highlight that rules are not alone in the regulatory universe, and urge that policymakers recognize and be held to account for the laundering of regulation by non-rule means to influence outcomes or inflict obligations, whether intentional or not.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Other menu items include wraps, flatbreads and salads.
    Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 25 July 2025
  • What's included Digital plans Digital + Print Daily digital access Android and IOS apps Subscriber-exclusive content Digital subscription to share The eNewspaper — a digital replica of the print newspaper.
    Austin American Statesman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 15 July 2025
  • What To Know According to photos shared by a Japanese aircraft spotter on X (formerly Twitter) and a report by Japanese media, a group of four U.S. Air Force fighter jets comprising a pair of F-15EX jets, an F-15E jet and an F-16C jet—arrived at Kadena Air Base on Saturday.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • If folks will volunteer, it can be composed of two- or three-member teams of neighbors patrolling, if possible, at the approximate times these crimes are occurring.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2025
  • The two songwriters also composed pitch-perfect theme songs for two sitcoms that debuted within a year of each other – Bewitched (1964) and Gidget (1965).
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • These entities have proliferated ever since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, which effectively struck down longtime campaign finance regulations that sought to limit and regulate spending on political campaigns.
    M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Help available for crashing out, including interventions such as therapy, as well as learning how to regulate emotions better and practicing self-care during times of significant stress.
    Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • The special also boasts on-site staff — a manager, security personnel and a staffed coat check — and, to sweeten the deal, there is no clean-up required on the newlyweds’ behalf.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Unveiled at Palazzo Balbi in Venice on Tuesday, the medals boast a sleek aesthetic reflecting the country’s legacy in avant-garde design.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Securing container platforms involves such activities as scanning images, validating configurations and simulating attacks.
    Margarita Simonova, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • The venue was a perfect fit for the bride and groom, who are both involved in the air travel industry.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Firemen in their command center calm the fears of the locals who call in, law enforcement tracks down tomb robbers, while in the port of Torre Annunziata, Syrian tankers unload Ukrainian grain.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 July 2025
  • Jorgenson is not one of those — for him, the preparation itself is calming.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Contain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contain. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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