Meaning & use
content
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Meanings
adjectiveafter a verb
Quietly satisfied with what you have, and not wishing for more.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb, often with with or to: content with life, content to wait.
Patterns
- content with something
- content to do something
She was content with a small apartment.
The cat sat content in the sun.
He seemed content to watch from the sidelines.
noununcountable
The information, ideas or images contained in a piece of writing, a video, a website or other media.
Grammar: Stress is on the first syllable: CON-tent. Not used with a plural s in this sense.
Patterns
- the content of something
- digital content
The website posts new content every day.
I liked the style of the book but not its content.
nounsingulartechnical
The amount of a substance contained in something.
Grammar: Usually with a modifier before it: the sugar content.
Patterns
- the fat content of something
Check the fat content of the yogurt.
Soil with high water content is heavy.
verbtransitiveformal
To make someone satisfied; often used reflexively to accept something less than ideal.
Grammar: Often content yourself with: she contented herself with tea.
Patterns
- content yourself with something
He contented himself with a short walk.
Word forms
| third person singular | contents |
|---|---|
| past tense | contented |
| past participle | contented |
| -ing form | contenting |
Common combinations
- content with
- He is content with his salary.
- web content
- She writes web content for a travel site.
- sugar content
- The drink has a high sugar content.
- content creator
- A content creator posted the video.
Synonyms and how they differ
- satisfied
- Satisfied can suggest a need was met, while content is a calmer state of not wanting more.
- happy
- Happy is stronger and more cheerful than content.
- subject matter
- Subject matter is the topic, while content is everything the work includes.
Opposites
Word family
- contented adjective
- peacefully satisfied
- contentment noun
- quiet satisfaction
- contents noun
- things inside something
Commonly confused: content or contend? content or contents?
content vs contend
Contend means to compete or argue, not feel satisfied.
content vs contents
Contents (plural) means what a container holds, as in the contents of a box.
Practice
Which pronunciation and meaning match 'content' in 'She is content with her job'?
Choose one answer.
The adjective meaning satisfied is stressed on the second syllable. The noun for material has first-syllable stress.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “content”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.