Not too sure about the meaning of content? We can help. Read on to discover the word content’s definition, origin, synonyms, and more.
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Kevin
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March 18, 2022
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You’ve likely heard the word content used to describe how someone feels, but did you know that it has a ton of other definitions? Despite what many people may think, the term content has more than one meaning.
Interested in learning more? We can help! Read on to discover everything you need to know about the term content, including its definition, origin, synonyms, antonyms, and more.
Let’s get started!
What Is the Definition of Content?
If you text a group of your friends asking for the definition of content, you’ll likely get a mixed bag of answers. Why? Because “content” and “content” are heteronyms — two separate words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings.
So, what does content mean? Let’s take a look at a few definitions provided by trusted dictionaries listed below:
- According to the Macmillan Dictionary, when content is pronounced “kon-tent,” it refers to any material — such as writing, music, or video — that appears on a website or other electronic medium.
- Also pronounced “kon-tent,” Dictionary.com defines content as something that is contained. The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this pronunciation of content also refers to the articles or parts contained in a book or magazine, with the number of the page they begin on.
- When pronounced “kuhn-tent,” the Collins English Dictionary says if you’re content with something, you’re willing to accept it, rather than wanting something more or something better.
As you can see, the word content can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb and has many meanings in the English language.
What Is the Origin of Content?
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition, the word content is Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French contenter and Medieval Latin contentare.
These both come from the Latin contentus, meaning contained or satisfied. Contentus is the past participle of continere, meaning to hold together, enclose, or have as contents.
In France during the 13th century, however, the word contenere became contenir and was brought back to English. It was common when transferring words from French to English to do away with the native word endings, thus ‘contenir’ became contain, from which content was derived.
The word continued to evolve, with its meaning eventually becoming “to fill” and then “to satisfy.”
In the 15th century, the term traveled back to the English language, where its word ending was removed once again, creating the derivative “content.”
What Are Synonyms and Antonyms of Content?
Now that we’ve covered the many definitions of content, it’s time to discuss synonyms and antonyms. Learning the synonyms and antonyms of content won’t only strengthen your understanding of the term but can help you express yourself better and more clearly, too!
Synonyms of content include:
- Happy
- Satisfied
- Comfortable
- Bliss
- Calm
- Fulfill
- Gratified
- Euphoria
- Matter
- Motive
- Question
- Capacity
- Volume
- Theme
- Subject
- Topic
- Gratified
- Pleased
Antonyms of content include:
- Discontented
- Unhappy
- Unsatisfied
- Upset
- Depressed
- Dissatisfied
- Refuse
- Inactivity
- Forfeit
- Reluctant
- Unwilling
- Needy
- Wanting
- Meaningless
- Disagreeable
Using the Word Content in Example Sentences
At this point, you should have a pretty good understanding of what the word content means. So, if you’re ready and feel comfortable, go ahead and practice using it in a sentence.
To get you going, we’ve put together several usage examples for you below:
Most snacks these days have either a high sugar content or high salt content.
The newborn smiled contentedly after finishing her morning meal.
I’m really content with my job and not interested in changing jobs.
The content of the course is described in the course outline.
I am not too sure what the contents are in that mixture, but it smells amazing!
The contents in the cookie jar are for me and me only!
The marketing content for our new skincare product launching in October will be ready to email blast in August.
Suzie was quite content after realizing her boyfriend upgraded from a motel to a fancy hotel.
We need less content and more pictures on our blog.
Are you content with a warm meal during rainy weather?
The television producer is on the hunt for content that is more entertaining than what’s currently on the air.
You do have creative material, but your current content is kinda lame.
The angry voters caused hours of traffic preventing us from making it to the intended destination, so we had to content ourselves with a relaxing day at home.
A deluxe suit isn’t necessary; I’d honestly be perfectly content with a warm meal and a clean place to sleep.
Surrounded by a number of soft toys, the baby appears to be content in her crib after and ready to drift off to dreamland.
Eggs have a high protein content making them a great post-workout snack.
Look, I’m not really content about the current circumstances, OK?
Conclusion
Derived from Old French, when content is used as a noun, it can refer to something contained, an affirmative vote, the topics treated in written work, or the principal substance offered by a website.
When used as an adjective, on the other hand, the word content simply means satisfied.
Whether you decide to use content as a noun or an adjective, we hope you are beyond content with this guide. To discover more interesting words, check out our website where you’ll also find grammar tips, useful tools and more.
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