content

¹ American  

[kon-tent] / ˈkɒn tɛnt /

noun

1. Usually contents.

   1. something that is contained.

      the contents of a box.

   2. the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.

   3. the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document.

      a table of contents.

2. something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts.

   a poetic form adequate to a poetic content.

3. significance or profundity; meaning.

   a clever play that lacks content.

4. substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.

   publishers, record companies, and other content providers; a flashy website, but without much content.

5. that which may be perceived in something.

   the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.

6. Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.

7. power of containing; holding capacity.

   The bowl's content is three quarts.

8. volume, area, or extent; size.

9. the amount contained.

10. Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).

11. 1. Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.

    2. any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.

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content ² American  

[kuhn-tent] / kənˈtɛnt /

adjective

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

2. British. agreeing; assenting.

3. Archaic. willing.

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verb (used with object)

contents, present (3rd person singular) contented, past participle, past contenting present participle

1. to make content.

   These things content me.

   Synonyms:

   gratify, appease

   Antonyms:

   dissatisfy

noun

1. the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment.

   His content was threatened.

2. (in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.

content ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒntɛnt /

noun

1. (often plural) everything that is inside a container

   the contents of a box

2. (usually plural)

   1. the chapters or divisions of a book

   2. a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each

3. the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form

4. all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance

5. the capacity or size of a thing

6. the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc

   the lead content of petrol

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content ² British  

/ kənˈtɛnt /

adjective

1. mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are

2. assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to make (oneself or another person) content or satisfied

   to content oneself with property

noun

1. peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction

interjection

1. (in the House of Lords) a formal expression of assent, as opposed to the expression not content

content Idioms  

1. see to one's heart's content.

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Synonym Usage

See satisfy.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contentment
  noun
• contentness
  noun
• contentable
  adjective
• contently
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• contenting
  present
• contented
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• content
  simple
• contents
  simple
• have contented
  perfect
• has contented
  perfect
• am contenting
  progressive
• are contenting
  progressive
• is contenting
  progressive
• have been contenting
  perfect progressive
• has been contenting
  perfect progressive

Past

• contented
  simple
• had contented
  perfect
• was contenting
  progressive
• were contenting
  progressive
• had been contenting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will content
  simple
• will have contented
  perfect
• will be contenting
  progressive
• will have been contenting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of content¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Medieval Latin contentum, noun use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre “to contain”), equivalent to con- “with, together” + ten- “hold” + -tus past participle suffix; see con-

Origin of content²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin contentus “satisfied,” special use of past participle of continēre; see content ¹

Explanation

If you feel content, you're satisfied and happy. The content of a book, movie, or song is what it's about: the topic. This word has two main meanings. The first has to do with being pleased and satisfied (feeling content) or making someone else feel happy and at peace with things (contenting them). The other meaning has to do with subject matter: the content of a history class might be American history. The content of a math class might be geometry. As long as there's a topic or subject, there's content.

Example Sentences

"Whether that's competing, creating content, volunteering at events, managing communities or networking, those experiences are often just as valuable as what you learn on the course itself."

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

In a message reviewed by the Journal, that contractor told its social-media army to repost content made by 10 Polymarket creators in particular, Makihara among them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

For most of the past decade, the streaming wars were framed as a contest over content.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

The plants used crude “heavy with high sulfur content that requires frequent maintenance,” and “many electric poles are rotten.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

“Dear boy,” he answered, “I’m quite content to take my chance. I’ve seen my boy, and he can be a gentleman without me.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• comfortable
• contented
• fulfilled
• gratified
• happy
• pleased
• satisfied
• willing