Word
Definitions
01a box or jar
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an object like a box, bottle, or jar that you use to hold or store things.
n. a generic receptacle used for the storage or transport of physical goods.
“She put the leftover pasta in a plastic container and placed it in the fridge.”
“The laboratory requires every chemical container to be clearly labelled with its contents and the date it was opened.”
Synonyms
02shipping box
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a very large metal box used for carrying goods on ships, trains, or trucks.
n. a standardised, large-scale metal box designed for the efficient transport of freight via intermodal shipping.
“The crane lifted the heavy container from the ship onto the waiting truck.”
“Global trade relies heavily on the standardisation of containers, which allows seamless transfer between ocean liners and rail networks.”
Synonyms
03software environment
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a package of software that contains everything an application needs to run.
n. a lightweight, standalone package of software that includes everything needed to run an application, ensuring consistency across different computing environments.
“The developer used a container to make sure the app worked the same way on every computer.”
“By deploying the microservices within a container, the engineering team eliminated the 'it works on my machine' problem during the production rollout.”
Usage
Often used in the context of cloud computing and DevOps.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “container” in context.
Verb
01. empty the container
“Please empty the recycling container before it gets too full.”
verb + noun
02. put food in a container
“I put the leftover pasta in a plastic container and placed it in the fridge.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. seal the container
“Make sure you seal the container tightly so the food stays fresh.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. airtight container
“Store the coffee beans in an airtight container to preserve their flavor.”
adj + noun
05. plastic container
“She bought a set of plastic containers to organize her craft supplies.”
adj + noun
06. reusable container
“I always bring a reusable container for my lunch to reduce waste.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. shipping container
“The goods were transported across the ocean in a large metal shipping container.”
noun + noun
08. storage container
“We need a large storage container for all the old toys in the attic.”
noun + noun
Etymology
From Middle English conteyner, equivalent to contain + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/container
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR