container
gb/kəntˈeɪnɚ/ us/kəntˈeɪnɚ/
A2
English
~ 5400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Object used to hold things
An object like a box, bottle, or jar that you use to keep things in.
Usage pattern:
a container for [things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "box" for every type of container. Use "box" when the shape is like a box; use "container" as a general word for many shapes (box, bottle, jar, tub, etc.). Some also confuse "container" with "content"; "container" is the object outside, "contents" are the things inside.
Synonyms
receptacle (More formal and technical; often used in written or scientific contexts rather than everyday speech.)
|
box (Names a specific type of container, usually with straight sides and a lid, not all container shapes.)
|
holder (Can be open and not fully enclosing the object, while a container usually surrounds what is inside.)
Antonyms
contents (Refers to what is inside the container, the opposite side of the container–contents relationship.)
|
open space (A place without walls or sides to hold things, the opposite of an enclosing object.)
Collocations
plastic container
|food container
|storage container
|airtight container
|glass container
|sealed container
Themes
daily life
|home
|food
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please put the leftovers in a plastic container and keep them in the fridge.
- The chemicals must be stored in a sealed container away from heat and light.
- She carried her lunch in a small glass container.
- Label each container so you know what is inside.
- The museum displayed the ancient coins in a clear container.
Learner examples
- I keep sugar in a large container in the kitchen.
- He put the toys into a big container under the bed.
- Please bring your own container for water.
- There is a small container of milk on the table.
- We need a strong container for these heavy tools.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Large metal box for freight
A big metal box used to move products by ship, truck, or train.
Usage pattern:
load [goods] into a container
Common mistake:
Learners may think this word means any box. In shipping and trade, a "container" is a special very large metal box with standard sizes, used for international transport. Smaller boxes are usually called "boxes" or "crates," not "containers" in this context.
Synonyms
shipping container (More specific everyday term that clearly shows the purpose is transport by ship, truck, or train.)
|
freight container (Often used in business or technical contexts to stress that it carries commercial goods (freight).)
Antonyms
bulk cargo (Goods carried loose (like oil, grain, or coal) instead of packed inside large standardized boxes.)
Collocations
shipping container
|cargo container
|container ship
|container terminal
|container port
|container yard
Themes
transport
|business
|logistics
|transportation
Examples
- The company loaded all the furniture into a 40-foot container for export.
- Hundreds of containers were stacked at the busy container port after the storm.
- Customs officers opened the container to inspect the goods inside.
- The goods were damaged because the container was not properly sealed.
- They shipped two containers of electronics to Europe last month.
Learner examples
- Many containers are waiting at the port.
- Workers are putting cars into a large container.
- This container is going on the ship tonight.
- They sent three containers of clothes to another country.
- The container is full of new phones.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
Isolated software unit for apps
A special software unit that keeps an app and everything it needs together and runs it separately from other apps on the same computer.
Usage pattern:
run [an application] in a container
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the everyday meaning of "container" with this technical meaning. In IT, a container is not a physical box; it is software that separates one app and its files from others on the same system. It is also not exactly the same as a virtual machine; containers share the host operating system.
Synonyms
virtual machine (Similar idea of isolation, but a virtual machine includes a full operating system, while a container shares the host OS and is lighter.)
|
sandbox (A more general word for an isolated environment, not always using container technology.)
Antonyms
host system (The underlying physical or virtual machine that runs containers, not the isolated unit itself.)
Collocations
Docker container
|run a container
|deploy containers
|container image
|container orchestration
|container runtime
Themes
technology
|computing
|software
Examples
- We run each microservice in its own container to keep them isolated.
- The team built a Docker container for the web application so it runs the same on every server.
- Kubernetes handles the scheduling and scaling of containers across the cluster.
- You should keep the database and application in separate containers for security reasons.
- The developers pushed a new container image to the registry after fixing the bug.
Learner examples
- They put the app in a container so it is easy to run.
- We can move this container to another server without problems.
- Each service runs in its own container on the same machine.
- The team created a new container image for the API.
- He uses Docker containers to test his code.
Grammar
Dictionary form
container
IPA
GB/kəntˈeɪnɚ/
US/kəntˈeɪnɚ/
Syllables & stress
con - tain - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: container
- Plural: containers
Word family
Forms
containers
noun
Core family
contain
verb A2
Related words
containment
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
uncontained
adjective
Expressions
airtight container
1/ˈɛɹtˌaɪt kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Container that keeps air out
A container that closes so well that no air can go in or out.
Examples
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
- The medicine must be kept in an airtight container away from light.
- An airtight container helps prevent food from going bad quickly.
container gardening
1/kəntˈeɪnɚ ɡˈɑɹdnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Growing plants in pots
The activity of growing flowers or other plants in pots or other containers, not directly in the ground.
Examples
- Container gardening is perfect for people who live in apartments with small balconies.
- She writes a blog about container gardening in hot, dry climates.
- They practiced container gardening so they could move their plants indoors in winter.
container ship
1/kəntˈeɪnɚ ʃˈɪp/
fixed phrase
Ship that carries containers
A very big ship that carries many shipping containers full of goods.
Examples
- The container ship arrived at the port early this morning.
- Modern container ships can carry thousands of containers at once.
- A storm delayed the container ship in the middle of the ocean.
Docker container
1/dˈɑkɚ kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Software container made with Docker
A software container that is built and run using Docker tools, holding an app and everything it needs.
Examples
- The team packaged the web service in a Docker container for easier deployment.
- We maintain separate Docker containers for the frontend and backend services.
- He pulled the latest Docker container from the registry before running the tests.
food container
1/fˈud kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Container for keeping food
A container you use to hold, keep, or carry food.
Examples
- Make sure the food container is closed tightly before you put it in the fridge.
- The restaurant uses paper food containers instead of plastic ones.
- I always bring my own food container for lunch.
plastic container
1/plˈæstɪk kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Container made of plastic
A container that is made from plastic, not glass, metal, or wood.
Examples
- He stored the toys in a large plastic container under the bed.
- The soup melted the cheap plastic container in the microwave.
- Many people reuse plastic containers instead of throwing them away.
reusable container
1/ɹiˈuzəbəl kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Container you can use many times
A container that you can wash and use again, not throw away after one use.
Examples
- Many cafes offer a discount if you bring a reusable container for your coffee.
- We use reusable containers instead of plastic bags for our lunches.
- Buying reusable containers helps reduce household waste.
shipping container
1/ʃˈɪpɪŋ kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Large box used for shipping
A very big metal box used to move products long distances by ship, truck, or train.
Examples
- They packed all the furniture into one shipping container for the move overseas.
- The port was full of colorful shipping containers stacked five high.
- Each shipping container is given a unique number for tracking.
storage container
1/stˈɔɹɪd͡ʒ kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Box used to store things
A box or other container that you use to keep things in, usually for a long time or to stay organized.
Examples
- We bought several storage containers to organize the clothes in the closet.
- Please put the holiday decorations back into their storage containers.
- Clear storage containers make it easy to see what is inside.
takeout container
1/tˈeɪkˌaʊt kəntˈeɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
Box for food to go
A box or similar container that holds food you buy from a restaurant to eat somewhere else.
Examples
- She put the leftover pasta into a takeout container to bring home.
- The restaurant switched to paper takeout containers to reduce plastic waste.
- He carried three takeout containers of noodles back to the office.