Synonyms for contain
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Hold
hold, accommodate, check, restrain, receive, take, hold in, control, suppress, limit, restrict, curb US, hold back, stop, admit, stifle, repress, moderate, arrest, turn back
2. Comprise — to include as a part
comprise, include, incorporate, embody, involve, cover, embrace, comprehend dated, inhold rare
Other
Definitions
- v. 1
To include as a part.
Most of the meals they offer contain meat.
- v. 2
To hold inside.
a spray bottle containing water.
- v. 3
To put constraints upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!
Related words
- Word family
- container containable content continence
- Phrases
- contain oneself
Forms
- Past participle
- contained
e.g. contained → accommodated, checked, restrained, received…
Example sentences
- receive It'll be two weeks before you receive the article.
- restrict He feels this new law will restrict his freedom.
- suppress It was very hard for her to suppress her emotions.
- include I will include the author's and publisher's names.
- comprise That didn't comprise any malicious intent.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| contain | steady | |
| receive | steady | |
| restrict | steady | |
| suppress | steady | |
| include | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- take1, stop1, hold1, bear1, curb1
- 5 letters
- check1, cover2, carry2, limit2, admit2
- 6 letters
- arrest2, embody3, stifle2, inhold
- 7 letters
- control2, include2, receive2, involve2, embrace2, repress2, enclose2
- 8 letters
- moderate3, restrict2, suppress2, comprise2, restrain2
- 10 letters
- comprehend3
- 11 letters
- accommodate4, incorporate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (cover2 = 2 syllables).