continent
gb/kˈɑntənənt/ us/kˈɑntənənt/
A2
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
one of Earth's large landmasses
A very large area of land on the Earth, like Africa or Asia, that is bigger than a country.
Usage pattern:
the continent of [place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "continent" with "country" and say things like *"Paris is a continent"* instead of *"Paris is a city"* or *"France is a country in Europe"*. Some also mix up the spelling and pronunciation of "continent" and "content"; these words are unrelated in meaning.
Synonyms
landmass (More technical and general; can refer to large areas of land that are not officially classed as continents.)
|
mainland (Refers to the main area of land of a country or region, not specifically to one of the world's major continents.)
Antonyms
ocean (Names the huge bodies of water that separate continents and contrast with large land areas.)
Collocations
the African continent
|the Asian continent
|the European continent
|across the continent
|on the continent of [X]
|the world's continents
Themes
geography
|education
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Africa is the second-largest continent in the world.
- Many different languages are spoken across the European continent.
- The country is located on the southern edge of the Asian continent.
- Climate change is affecting every continent on Earth.
- Antarctica is the coldest and most remote continent.
Learner examples
- Asia is the largest continent on Earth.
- They want to visit every continent before they are 40.
- Australia is both a country and a continent.
- There are seven continents in many school books.
- Penguins live on the continent of Antarctica.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
showing sexual self-control
Controlling your sexual behavior, especially by not having sex, usually for moral or religious reasons.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is continent
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "continent" here means "living on a continent" or confuse it with "continental". In this adjective sense, it is about controlling sexual behavior, not about geography. It is also formal and not common in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
abstinent (Common in modern use, can refer to avoiding other pleasures (like alcohol) as well as sex; slightly broader in meaning.)
|
chaste (Often has a strong moral or religious tone and can imply purity as well as lack of sexual activity.)
Antonyms
promiscuous (Describes someone who has many sexual partners, seen as the opposite of sexual self-restraint.)
Collocations
remain continent
|sexually continent
|a continent lifestyle
|live a continent life
|vow to be continent
Themes
morality
|health
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He chose to remain continent until marriage for religious reasons.
- Some monks take a vow to live a completely continent life.
- The study suggested that older adults who stayed sexually continent did so mainly for personal or moral reasons.
- She wrote about her decision to be sexually continent in her twenties.
- Historically, unmarried clergy were expected to be continent.
Learner examples
- The priest was expected to be continent.
- He decided to be continent before marriage.
- Some people choose a continent life because of their faith.
- In some religions, leaders must stay continent.
- She wrote an essay about why she wanted to be sexually continent.
Noun
B2
entity
3
mainland Europe (esp. to Britons)
The main land of Europe, not including islands like Great Britain and Ireland.
Usage pattern:
on the Continent
Common mistake:
Learners may think "the Continent" can refer to any large area of land, but in this fixed use, especially in British English, it almost always means mainland Europe. It is normally written with a capital "C" when used in this way.
Synonyms
mainland Europe (More explicit and slightly more modern; makes it clear that only the European mainland is meant.)
Antonyms
British Isles (Names the islands (including Great Britain and Ireland) often contrasted with mainland Europe in this usage.)
Collocations
on the Continent
|travel to the Continent
|holidays on the Continent
|return from the Continent
|spend a year on the Continent
Themes
geography
|travel
|culture
|space
Examples
- They spent the summer traveling around the Continent by train.
- He had never been to the Continent before his first trip to France.
- Many British students take a gap year to work on the Continent.
- Imported cheeses from the Continent are getting more expensive.
- She moved to the Continent after retiring from her job in London.
Learner examples
- They went to the Continent for their holiday.
- He works in London but often visits the Continent.
- Many people in Britain like to drive to the Continent.
- She wants to study languages on the Continent.
- We bought this wine on the Continent last year.
Grammar
Dictionary form
continent
IPA
GB/kˈɑntənənt/
US/kˈɑntənənt/
Syllables & stress
con - tin - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: continent
Noun
- Base: continent
- Plural: continents
Word family
Forms
continents
noun
Core family
continental
adjective B2
Related words
subcontinent
noun C1
Advanced or less common
intercontinental
adjective
supercontinent
noun
Expressions
the Continent
1/ðə kˈɑntənənt/
fixed phrase
mainland Europe (fixed phrase)
Mainland Europe, not including islands like Great Britain and Ireland, especially in British English.
Examples
- After university, she went to the Continent to improve her French and Spanish.
- Many British tourists drive to the Continent for cheaper wine and food.
- He dreams of taking a long train journey across the Continent.