I Kənˈteɪn Contained Past Drink Alcohol Brown Envelope

• this drink doesn't contain any alcohol.
• her statement contained one or two inaccuracies.
• a brown envelope containing dollar bills
• the bottle contains (= can hold) two litres.

contain

1. if something contains something else, it has that thing inside it or as part of it
• This drink doesn't contain any alcohol.
• Her statement contained one or two inaccuracies.
• a brown envelope containing dollar bills
• The bottle contains (= can hold) two litres.
2. to keep your feelings under control
• synonym restrain
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/restrain
• She was unable to contain her excitement.
• I was so furious I just couldn't contain myself (= I had to express my feelings).
3. to prevent something harmful from spreading or getting worse
• to contain an epidemic
• Government forces have failed to contain the rebellion.

Extra Examples

• He handed over a brown envelope containing a hundred dollar bills.
• He introduced repressive measures to contain the violence.
• I was so furious I just couldn’t contain myself.
• Overall planning policies are designed to contain the growth of urban sprawl.
• She could hardly contain her excitement.
• The bottle contains two litres.
• This drink doesn’t contain any alcohol.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they contain
• he / she / it contains
• past simple contained
• past participle contained
• past simple containing
• past participle containing

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French contenir, from Latin continere, from con- ‘altogether’ + tenere ‘to hold’.