contain

About 42.37 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To hold inside.

   The brown box contains three stacks of books.

2. verb To include as a part.

   Most of the meals they offer contain meat.

3. verb To put constraints upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.

   I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

4. verb To have as an element or subset.

   A group contains a unique inverse for each of its elements.

5. verb To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.

Similar words

carry hold take turn back comprise control arrest incorporate stop hold back

Often followed by

the a an more any no some only all

Word family

containable contained containing contains