WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
con•tent1 /ˈkɑntɛnt/USA pronunciation
n.
con•tent2 /kənˈtɛnt/USA pronunciation adj. [be + ~]
v. [~ + object]
n. [uncountable]
con•tent•ness, n. [uncountable]See -ten-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- [countable] Usually, contents. [plural]
- something contained: The contents of the box rattled after I dropped it.
- the topics covered in a book or document.
- the chapters of a book or document: a table of contents.
- something expressed;
meaning;
substance:[uncountable] It's a clever play but it lacks content. - the amount of a substance contained: [uncountable]high calcium content.[countable* usually singular]Those fruits have a high content of vitamin C.
con•tent2 /kənˈtɛnt/USA pronunciation adj. [be + ~]
- satisfied with what one is or has;
contented:He was content and settled back to enjoy his life. - Governmentwilling or resigned, as to do or accept something:He was not content with my answer, so I added a few more remarks.[~ + to + verb]was content to let the matter drop.
v. [~ + object]
- to make content:These pleasures did not content me any longer.
n. [uncountable]
- the state or feeling of being contented:To her great content, the kids had cleaned up their rooms.
con•tent•ness, n. [uncountable]See -ten-.
con•tent1
(kon′tent),USA pronunciation n.
con•tent2 (kən tent′),USA pronunciation adj.
v.t.
n.
con•tent′a•ble, adj.
con•tent′ly, adv.
con•tent′ness, n.
content1, +n.
- Usually, contents.
- something that is contained:the contents of a box.
- the subjects or topics covered in a book or document.
- the chapters or other formal divisions of a book or document:a table of contents.
- 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.
- significance or profundity;
meaning:a clever play that lacks content. - 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 Web site, but without much content.
- that which may be perceived in something:the latent versus the manifest content of a dream.
- Philosophythe sum of the attributes or notions comprised in a given conception;
the substance or matter of cognition. - power of containing;
holding capacity:The bowl's content is three quarts. - volume, area, or extent;
size. - the amount contained.
- [Ling.]the system of meanings or semantic values specific to a language (opposed to expression).
-
- [Math.]the greatest common divisor of all the coefficients of a given polynomial. Cf. primitive polynomial.
- any abstraction of the concept of length, area, or volume.
- Medieval Latin contentum, noun, nominal use of neuter of Latin contentus (past participle of continēre to contain), equivalent. to con- con- + ten- hold + -tus past participle suffix
- Anglo-French)
- late Middle English (1375–1425
con•tent2 (kən tent′),USA pronunciation adj.
- satisfied with what one is or has;
not wanting more or anything else. - Government[Brit.]agreeing;
assenting. - Government[Archaic.]willing.
v.t.
- to make content:These things content me.
n.
- the state or feeling of being contented;
contentment:His content was threatened. - Government(in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
- Latin contentus satisfied, special use of past participle of continēre; see content1
- Middle French
- late Middle English 1400–50
con•tent′ly, adv.
con•tent′ness, n.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged appease, gratify. See satisfy.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged dissatisfy.
content1, +n.
- 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 Web site, but without much content.
'table of contents' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):