Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb contain

6 senses of contain

Sense 1
incorporate, contain, comprise -- (include or contain; have as a component; "A totally new idea is comprised in this paper"; "The record contains many old songs from the 1930's")
       => include -- (have as a part, be made up out of; "The list includes the names of many famous writers")

Sense 2
hold, bear, carry, contain -- (contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water")
       => include -- (have as a part, be made up out of; "The list includes the names of many famous writers")

Sense 3
control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate -- (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger")
       => restrain, keep, keep back, hold back -- (keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool")

Sense 4
contain -- (be divisible by; "24 contains 6")
       => be -- (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer")

Sense 5
contain, take, hold -- (be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon")
       => be -- (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer")

Sense 6
check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain, hold back -- (hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism")
       => defend -- (be on the defensive; act against an attack)