Meaning & use
self-contained person
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
Someone who is independent and does not need much help or attention from others.
Grammar: Countable; use a/an or plural 'self-contained people'. Often used with 'very' or 'quite'.
Patterns
- a self-contained person
- be a self-contained person
- become a self-contained person
My grandmother is a self-contained person who rarely asks for help.
He's a self-contained person and enjoys his own company.
Being a self-contained person doesn't mean you never need friends.
Word forms
| plural | self-contained people |
|---|
Common combinations
- very self-contained
- She's very self-contained and doesn't rely on others.
- a self-contained individual
- He's a self-contained individual who likes to work alone.
- seem self-contained
- He seems self-contained, but he's actually quite lonely.
Synonyms and how they differ
- independent
- Independent is more general and can describe countries or organizations, while self-contained is only for people and emphasizes not needing others emotionally.
- self-sufficient
- Self-sufficient often refers to practical needs like money or food, while self-contained is more about emotional independence.
Opposites
Word family
- self-containment noun
- The quality of being self-contained.
Commonly confused: self-contained person or self-centered?
self-contained person vs self-centered
Self-centered means selfish and thinking only of yourself, while self-contained means independent and not needing others.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'self-contained person' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A self-contained person is independent and doesn't need much help. The other options contradict that meaning by suggesting neediness or dependence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “self-contained person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.