Synonyms for contain

verb

1. To include

   hold, accommodate, comprehend, embrace, be composed of, comprise, enclose, receive, admit, seat, bear, carry, consist of, harbor; see also include 1.

2. To restrict

   restrain, hold, keep back, check; see restrain 1.

contain, in strict usage, signifies the idea of enclosing within or including as a component, part, or fraction, and hold, the capacity for containing the bottle contains two ounces of liquid, but it holds a pint; to accommodate is to hold comfortably without crowding an elevator built to accommodate twelve people