contain

verb

(transitive) To hold inside.

(transitive) To include as a part.

(transitive) To put constraints upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.

(mathematics, of a set etc., transitive) To have as an element or subset.

(obsolete, intransitive) To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

Roots

teneo-tain · Latin · hold

Synonyms for contain

comprisev holdv incorporatev carryv includev encompassv subsumev takev confinev involvev bearv embodyv enclosev keepv controln restrainv restrictv

Synonyms & related words for contain

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of contain — including comprise, hold, incorporate, carry, include, encompass. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to contain

Explore words related to contain — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include sacchariferous, consist, encapsulate, containable, constitute, encompassment, retain, provide. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for contain

Common synonyms for contain include comprise, hold, incorporate, carry, include, encompass, subsume, take — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does contain come from?

The word contain breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -tain, from Latin teneo (“hold”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.