# contents

/ˈkɑntɛnts/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contents
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. items inside something

noun · CEFR A2

the things that are held inside a container, room, or bag.

For teachers: the physical or abstract items held within a container, space, or medium. Usually plural in this sense.

- The police officer asked the man to empty the contents of his pockets.
- Customs officials inspected the contents of the shipping container, looking for any items that had not been declared on the manifest.

### 2. list of chapters

noun · CEFR B1

a list at the beginning of a book or document that shows the chapters and page numbers.

For teachers: a formal list of the sections, chapters, or articles in a publication, typically including page numbers. Often used in the phrase 'table of contents'.

- Check the table of contents to find which page the recipe is on.
- The report was so extensive that the table of contents alone spanned three pages, detailing every subsection and appendix.

### 3. ideas or information

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the ideas, facts, or images that are included in a book, movie, or website.

For teachers: the substantive information or creative material contained within a medium, distinguished from its form or delivery method.

- The teacher was happy with the contents of the essay but suggested better grammar.
- While the technical quality of the film was superb, critics argued that the intellectual contents were somewhat lacking in depth.

### 4. to satisfy

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to make someone feel happy or satisfied with what they have.

For teachers: to satisfy the mind or desires of a person. Third-person singular present form.

- A quiet evening at home usually contents him after a long week.
- The simple life of the countryside contents her far more than the frantic pace of the city ever did.

## Examples

- She emptied the contents of her bag onto the table.
- Customs officers asked the traveler to open his suitcase so they could inspect the contents.
- The table of contents provides a structured overview of the manuscript, allowing the reader to navigate the dense theoretical arguments presented in each chapter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.