content

The word “content” means satisfied and at ease; not wanting more than what one has. In plain terms, either "satisfied" (adjective) or "the material/substance held inside something" (noun) — note the stress shifts: conTENT (satisfied) vs. CONtent (material).

“Content” is pronounced kuhn-TEHNT (/kənˈtɛnt/ in IPA).

Here is “content” used in a sentence: “He seemed perfectly content with his quiet life in the village.”

Depending on how it is used, “content” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

The word “content” comes from Latin. From Latin contentus, "contained; satisfied," the past participle of continēre ("to contain").

“Content” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Content” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: satisfied and at ease; not wanting more than what one has.

Content is a calm, quiet satisfaction — being at ease and not wanting more than you have. Happiness is usually more active and joyful, an uplifting feeling that rises and fades. You can feel content without being excited; contentment is steady and settled, while happiness tends to come in peaks.

Both describe a satisfied state and are very close in meaning. Content, the adjective, most often comes after a verb — 'she felt content.' Contented can sit before a noun — 'a contented smile' — and tends to suggest a settled, lasting sense of ease. The difference is subtle.

Opposites include discontented, dissatisfied, restless, and unhappy. Where a content person is at ease and wants nothing more, a discontented one feels a lack and longs for something different or better. 'Frustrated' and 'unfulfilled' also sit at the opposite end of the feeling.

The adjective content, meaning satisfied, is stressed on the second syllable: con-TENT. This sets it apart from the noun content — meaning what something contains — which is stressed on the first syllable: CON-tent. Same spelling, but different stress and a completely different meaning.