content
1 Americannoun
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Usually contents.
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something that is contained.
the contents of a box.
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the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
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the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document.
a table of contents.
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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.
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significance or profundity; meaning.
a clever play that lacks content.
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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.
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that which may be perceived in something.
the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
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Philosophy, Logic. the sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception; the substance or matter of cognition.
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power of containing; holding capacity.
The bowl's content is three quarts.
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volume, area, or extent; size.
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the amount contained.
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Linguistics. the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).
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Mathematics. the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial.
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any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.
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adjective
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satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
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British. agreeing; assenting.
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Archaic. willing.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; contentment.
His content was threatened.
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(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
noun
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(often plural) everything that is inside a container
the contents of a box
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(usually plural)
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the chapters or divisions of a book
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a list, printed at the front of a book, of chapters or divisions together with the number of the first page of each
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the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form
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all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc; substance
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the capacity or size of a thing
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the proportion of a substance contained in an alloy, mixture, etc
the lead content of petrol
adjective
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mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
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assenting to or willing to accept circumstances, a proposed course of action, etc
verb
noun
interjection
Synonym Usage
See satisfy.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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contentsimple
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contentssimple
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have contentedperfect
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has contentedperfect
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am contentingprogressive
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are contentingprogressive
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is contentingprogressive
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have been contentingperfect progressive
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has been contentingperfect progressive
Past
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contentedsimple
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had contentedperfect
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was contentingprogressive
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were contentingprogressive
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had been contentingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing content
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Watch for rage-bait—social-media algorithms tend to amplify content that triggers strong emotions like surprise, delight and outrage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Scientists at the University of Surrey have found that a sodium-based battery material performs much better when its natural water content is left in place.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
“Spending money on staff, online communications and even fundraising appeals that have informational content can all be considered programmatic.”
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
Police have also asked social media platforms, including Meta and X, to take down what they described as abusive and manipulated content targeting the premier.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Or were they all just mindless machines, content with their place in the world?
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
"The mechanism we identify could contribute to the elevated gold contents observed in hydrothermal systems in subduction zones," says Timm.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
He showed up a minute later, eyeing the contents of my shopping cart and used the cat food in it as an icebreaker to ask about my cat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The contents of the documents were reported by the New York Times in 2013, and some executives at JPMorgan said they believed that they were leaked from someone inside the bank.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The freezer aisle, from whence many of its contents originate, does not do much to help the case.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Lafayette lifts the pot’s lid and shows me the contents.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Many fans have blamed her relationship with Kelce, suggesting that the couple’s contented monogamy means Swift has lost her edge as the queen of heartbreak songs.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
Rather, that contented knowing seasons the confidence with which O’Hara shaped all of her women, whether mothers or, like Patty Leigh in “The Studio,” mother figures.
From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026
The statement added: "We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love."
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025
“Wi$h Li$t,” a wistful song that hits like a contented sigh, imagines a simple life of domesticity in a suburban house with a basketball hoop, children and peace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Gradually the talkative groups settled into a contented silence, but no one seemed disposed to go to sleep.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Verstappen has reeled off four consecutive podium finishes and won three of the last four Austin races, only missing out last year when Ferrari claimed a one-two, contenting himself instead with a sprint race win.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
By 2020, Zawahiri had become increasingly distant, contenting himself to write books and essays and only rarely appearing on video.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 1, 2022
He’s been playing it safe in Brooklyn, contenting himself with his Ma, his girlfriend and a modest managerial job at Starbucks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2020
When it comes to choosing a companion for life we should none of us be contenting ourselves with bare bones; in matters of the heart there really are plenty more fish in the sea.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 14, 2016
For some time Amadis led a life of ease, hunting and feasting, and contenting himself with such news of his lady as he could obtain.
From Legends & Romances of Spain by Spence, Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
