contents
contents — noun
1. everything that is held or packed inside a box, bag, room, or other container.
everything that is held or packed inside a box, bag, room, or other container.
Indra emptied the contents of her schoolbag onto the kitchen table.
the contents of + [container]
Customs officers asked Faisal to declare the contents of the large suitcase.
declare the contents of
The label warns that the contents of the bottle may cause skin irritation.
After the flood, the contents of the basement were soaked and ruined.
Obi carefully unpacked the contents of the wooden crate one item at a time.
- items inside
everyday paraphrase; less compact
- load
narrower; usually for vehicles or trucks
文法句型
the contents of [container]
用法筆記
Always plural; almost always preceded by 'the' plus an 'of [container]' phrase. Singular 'content' carries a different meaning (substance / material).
常見錯誤
2. the subjects or ideas that are covered in a book, article, speech, or other writ
the subjects or ideas that are covered in a book, article, speech, or other written or spoken work.
Hugo summarised the contents of the report in a two-page email.
summarise the contents of
Defne disagreed with the contents of the newspaper editorial about housing.
Before the trial, lawyers studied the contents of every signed witness statement.
The professor asked students to outline the contents of chapter five for homework.
- subject matter
more formal; emphasises themes rather than specific points
- substance
stresses the ideas; uncountable singular
文法句型
the contents of [text]
用法筆記
Refers to the IDEAS within a text, not the physical book object. Distinguish from sense 3 (digital media) — sense 2 is about written or spoken arguments, sense 3 is the generic stuff posted online.
3. the videos, photos, articles, and other material published on a website, social
the videos, photos, articles, and other material published on a website, social platform, or app.
Renata reviews the contents of three news apps before her morning meeting.
TikTok deleted the contents of three teen accounts that broke its safety rules.
Xiu downloads the contents of her favourite channel so she can watch offline.
Advertisers complained about the violent contents of several gaming streams.
文法句型
the contents of [website / platform]
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with the modern uncountable noun 'content' (singular). 'Contents' here usually refers to a specific bounded set ('the contents of THIS feed'); plain 'content' is the general media category.
4. the central point or gist of an argument, message, or statement — what it actual
the central point or gist of an argument, message, or statement — what it actually says, stripped of style.
Élise judges a speech by its contents, not by the speaker's accent or appearance.
Adina stripped away the polite phrases and found the contents of the apology hollow.
the contents of [statement]
Reporters argued about the political contents of the prime minister's New Year message.
Otis cares more about the contents of an idea than about who first said it.
- form
the outer style or presentation, as opposed to the inner message
文法句型
the contents of [argument / message]
用法筆記
Formal register; in everyday speech 'point', 'gist', or 'substance' is more common. Distinguish from sense 2 — sense 2 is the full set of topics covered; sense 4 is the single key takeaway.
5. what a symbol, image, or expression stands for — the meaning a reader or viewer
what a symbol, image, or expression stands for — the meaning a reader or viewer is meant to take from it.
Art historians still debate the symbolic contents of the dragon in the temple painting.
Harper interpreted the emotional contents of the lullaby differently from her grandmother.
Therapists sometimes ask patients to describe the contents of recurring nightmares.
The poet hides the political contents of the verse behind images of birds.
- significance
what something means rather than what it literally shows
- meaning
general everyday equivalent
文法句型
the contents of [symbol / image / dream]
用法筆記
Common in literary, art-historical, and psychoanalytic writing. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 4 is the surface argument; sense 5 is what a symbol secretly signifies.
6. the people, objects, and actions actually depicted in a painting, film, or piece
the people, objects, and actions actually depicted in a painting, film, or piece of fiction — as opposed to its style or structure.
Leo praised the painting's form but found the contents of the scene rather dull.
Lisa, the chief critic, separated the contents of the novel from its narrative form.
contents [vs.] form
The film's slow camera work clashes with the violent contents of the final scene.
Romi argued that the contents of the photograph mattered more than its composition.
- subject matter
everyday equivalent; works in casual writing too
- form
the structural or stylistic side of the work
文法句型
the contents of [the work / the painting]
用法筆記
An art-criticism term. Almost always set against 'form' as its contrast partner ('content vs. form' / 'contents vs. form'). Mostly appears in academic or critical reviews.
7. the topics, concepts, or material studied in a particular subject or course.
the topics, concepts, or material studied in a particular subject or course.
Alessia revised the contents of the chemistry course over the long winter break.
the contents of [course]
The ministry has updated the contents of the secondary-school history curriculum.
Teachers complained that the contents of the new programme were too broad.
Hui explained the contents of comparative law to first-year students every September.
- syllabus
the official list of topics for a course
- curriculum
the wider plan of study across a programme
文法句型
the contents of [discipline / curriculum]
用法筆記
Most natural in academic and educational writing. In casual talk, 'what's in the course' or 'the syllabus' is more common.
contents — adjective
1. feeling quietly satisfied with the way things are, without wanting anything more
feeling quietly satisfied with the way things are, without wanting anything more.
Eli was content with a quiet evening, a thick book, and a mug of cocoa.
be content with + [noun]
Léa seemed perfectly content to wait outside while her friends queued for tickets.
be content to + [verb]
After thirty years on the same farm, Femi is content; he wants nothing else.
Naoko looked content as she watched the sunset from the small balcony.
Jason said he was content with his salary and had no plans to leave.
- discontented
actively unhappy and wanting change
- restless
wanting something to change; unable to settle
文法句型
be content with [noun]
be content to [verb]
用法筆記
Almost always predicative (after 'be', 'seem', 'feel', 'look'). Rare before a noun — say 'a contented child', not 'a content child'. Distinguish from 'happy': 'content' suggests calm acceptance rather than active joy.
常見錯誤
contents — verb
1. to give someone enough of what they want or need so that they stop complaining o
to give someone enough of what they want or need so that they stop complaining or asking for more.
A small bowl of warm soup contented Iris after the long walk home.
content + [direct object: person]
Nothing the Toyota board offered seemed to content the angry shareholders at the meeting.
Abigail handed her son a biscuit, which contented him for about thirty seconds.
A polite refusal contented the journalist; he stopped pressing for further details.
文法句型
content + [someone]
用法筆記
Formal and rather literary; everyday English prefers 'satisfy', 'please', or 'keep [someone] happy'. The reflexive pattern 'content oneself with' is far more common today than the plain transitive use.
2. to accept a smaller or simpler version of what you wanted, instead of asking for
to accept a smaller or simpler version of what you wanted, instead of asking for everything.
Without an oven, Liam contented himself with making sandwiches for the picnic.
content oneself with + [-ing / noun]
Jenna contented herself with one chapter a night while studying for her exams.
Unable to travel, Anya contented herself with photos and stories from her cousins abroad.
We contented ourselves with a quick coffee, since the restaurant was fully booked.
- settle for
more informal; everyday alternative
- make do with
stresses that the choice is less than ideal
- insist on
refuse anything less than what you originally wanted
文法句型
content oneself with [noun / -ing]
用法筆記
Almost always reflexive: 'content yourself / oneself / himself / herself / ourselves'. Followed by 'with' + noun or '-ing' form. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is one person ending another person's complaints; sense 2 is choosing to accept less for yourself.