con
tain
Third Person
contains
Present Participle
containing
Past Tense
contained
Past Participle
contained
1
to have or hold something within or include something as a part of a larger entity or space
transitive
- The box regularly contains various items like books and documents.
- The box contains all the parts you need to assemble the table.
- The cupboard contains dishes, cups, and other kitchenware.
- The file contains the documents we need for the meeting.
- The container contains a mixture of sand and salt, ready for use.
2
to consist of or include several different elements or parts
transitive
- The book contains stories from different cultures and traditions.
- The course contains lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
- The orchestra contains musicians who play a variety of instruments.
- The recipe contains a variety of spices to enhance the flavor.
- The collection contains rare artifacts from ancient civilizations.
Synonyms:
3
to hold back or manage one's emotions, actions, or impulses
transitive
- She had to contain her excitement when she heard the good news.
- He tried to contain his anger, but it was hard to stay calm.
- He struggled to contain his frustration when things didn’t go as planned.
- He contained his impatience, waiting for the results with as much composure as he could.
- He contained his desire to speak out, not wanting to interrupt the speaker.
4
to stop or limit the growth or spread of a serious issue or problem
transitive
- The authorities are doing everything they can to contain the outbreak of the disease.
- The team managed to contain the damage after the floodwaters started rising.
- Efforts to contain the wildfire have been unsuccessful due to strong winds.
- The company took swift action to contain the security breach.
- The military's intervention helped contain the conflict in the region.
5
(of a number) to be divisible by another number without leaving a remainder
transitive
- Twelve contains three, as 12 divided by 3 equals 4.
- The number 20 contains 5, because 20 divided by 5 results in a whole number.
- Forty-eight contains eight, as it divides evenly without a remainder.
- The number 72 contains 9, meaning it can be divided by 9 without any leftover.
- The number 56 contains 7, since it divides exactly into 8.