continent
KON-tih-nuhnt
Continent (noun) means one of the large landmasses of the Earth, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe. Example: “Many birds cross a whole continent when they migrate in autumn.”
noun
1
One of the large landmasses of the Earth, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe.
"Many birds cross a whole continent when they migrate in autumn."
"She dreams of travelling to every continent before she retires."
"Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth."
adj
1
Able to control one's bladder or bowels.
"The nurse helped him become continent again after the operation."
"Staff check whether each resident is continent during the night."
"The patient became fully continent again after physical therapy."
2
Exercising self-restraint, especially regarding physical desires.
"He remained continent in his habits, avoiding rich food and idle pleasures."
"The preacher urged his followers to be continent and modest."
"The monk led a continent, disciplined life."
How to use continent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly a large landmass like Africa or Asia; less commonly, an adjective meaning "able to control one's bladder/bowels" or "self-restrained."
Common mistake
Don't confuse "continent" (self-restrained/able to control bodily functions) with "incontinent" (unable to), which is the far more commonly used of the pair in medical contexts.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- continents
- Comparative
- more continent
- Superlative
- most continent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many birds cross a whole _____ when they migrate in autumn.
Etymology
From Latin continens, "holding together, unbroken," the present participle of continēre ("to contain, hold together").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for continent
See all rhymes for continent →Frequently asked questions
What does “continent” mean?
The word “continent” means one of the large landmasses of the Earth, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe. In plain terms, most commonly a large landmass like Africa or Asia; less commonly, an adjective meaning "able to control one's bladder/bowels" or "self-restrained.".
How do you pronounce “continent”?
“Continent” is pronounced KON-tih-nuhnt (/ˈkɑntɪnənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “continent” in a sentence?
Here is “continent” used in a sentence: “Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth.”
What is the opposite of “continent”?
The opposite of “continent” — its antonyms — is incontinent.
What part of speech is “continent”?
Depending on how it is used, “continent” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “continent” come from?
The word “continent” comes from Latin. From Latin continens, "holding together, unbroken," the present participle of continēre ("to contain, hold together").
Is “continent” a common word?
“Continent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “continent” have?
“Continent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the large landmasses of the Earth, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe.
How many continents are there?
The model most commonly taught in English-speaking countries lists seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (or Oceania), Europe, North America, and South America. Other conventions count six, either combining Europe and Asia into Eurasia or treating the two Americas as one. The number reflects convention rather than a strict geological rule.
What is the difference between a continent and a country?
A continent is one of the Earth's large landmasses, such as Africa, Asia, or Europe, while a country is a political unit with its own government and borders. A continent normally contains many countries; Australia is unusual in being commonly described as both.
Is Australia a continent or an island?
In the widely taught seven-continent model, Australia is counted as the smallest continent rather than the largest island — that title goes to Greenland. Some classifications prefer the broader label Oceania, grouping Australia with New Zealand and the Pacific islands.
