Contain
/kənˈteɪn/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo hold or have within something.
/kənˈteɪn/
To hold or include within.
The book contains a lot of interesting information.
💡 Simply: Imagine a lunchbox! It *contains* your sandwich, apple, and juice. It's like holding something inside.
👶 For kids: To have something inside of it.
More Examples
The bottle contains water.
The recipe contains flour, sugar, and eggs.
How It's Used
"The box contains toys."
"The experiment contained several variables."
"The report contained critical findings."
To control or prevent something from spreading or getting out of control; to restrain or control one's emotions.
/kənˈteɪn/
To control or restrain (oneself or something).
The police worked to contain the riot.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really, really excited. *Containing* your excitement is trying not to jump up and down and yell! Or think of stopping a spill – you contain it!
👶 For kids: To stop something from going somewhere or doing something bad.
More Examples
He couldn't contain his laughter.
The dam failed to contain the floodwaters.
How It's Used
"She struggled to contain her anger."
"Firefighters worked to contain the wildfire."
"The policy aimed to contain the spread of the disease."
Idioms & expressions
contain oneself
To control one's emotions or behavior.
"She had to contain herself when she saw the rude comment."
From Old French *contenir*, from Latin *continēre* ('to hold together, enclose'), from *com-* ('with, together') + *tenēre* ('to hold').
The word has been used since the 14th century, with meanings related to holding or including things and to restraining oneself.
Memory tip
Think of a container; it holds things. Contain is like the container itself.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: tenēre