Include vs. Contain — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 27, 2024
Include refers to having something as a part of a group or list, while contain implies having something within or holding it inside.
Difference Between Include and Contain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Include suggests the act of encompassing or adding something as a part of a whole, emphasizing the idea of incorporation. Whereas, contain focuses on the capacity or ability to hold something within defined boundaries.
When you include items on a list, you're adding them to an existing collection, suggesting expansion. On the other hand, to say a container holds items means it has a specific volume or space that limits what it can hold.
In programming, including a file means making its contents available in another file, promoting reuse and modularity. Conversely, a data structure containing elements implies that it encloses and manages these elements within its own framework.
In legal documents, include can specify the addition of certain terms or conditions explicitly mentioned in the document. Contain, however, often refers to what the document confines or bounds legally and contextually.
Recipes may instruct to include ingredients, which means to ensure these items are added to the mixture. Contain, in a culinary context, would focus more on what the final dish holds, affecting those with dietary restrictions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To have as part of a group or whole.
To hold or have within itself.
Usage in Sentences
We include all members in the decision-making.
The jar contains four liters of water.
Contexts
Lists, groups, collections.
Capacities, volumes, limits.
Implication
Addition, expansion.
Enclosure, limitation.
Common Applications
Documents, software development, recipes.
Packaging, storage, recipes.
Compare with Definitions
Include
To consider as part of something.
The tour price includes meals and accommodation.
Contain
To prevent the spread or escape of.
The firefighters worked hard to contain the fire.
Include
To make part of a list or group.
Please include your full name and address.
Contain
To restrain or hold within limits.
The police contained the crowd effectively.
Include
To have as a component.
Our software package includes a user manual.
Contain
To keep within limits.
Try to contain your excitement a bit.
Include
To add as a part of something else.
The new version includes several feature improvements.
Contain
To hold or have within.
This drink contains real fruit juice.
Include
To encompass or cover.
The study includes a broad range of subjects.
Contain
To consist of; be composed of.
The committee contains experts from various fields.
Include
Make part of a whole or set
We have included some hints for beginners in this section
Contain
Have or hold (someone or something) within
The cigarettes were thought to contain cannabis
Include
To contain or take in as a part, element, or member.
Contain
Control or restrain (oneself or a feeling)
He must contain his hatred
Include
To consider as part of or allow into a group or class
Thanked the host for including us.
Contain
To have within; hold
A bin that contains rice.
Include
To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member.
I will purchase the vacation package if you will include car rental.
Contain
To be capable of holding
These barrels contain 50 gallons.
Include
To consider as part of something; to comprehend.
The vacation package includes car rental.
Does this volume of Shakespeare include his sonnets?
I was included in the invitation to the family gathering.
Up to and including page twenty-five
Contain
To have as a component or constituent part; include
Does the soup contain meat? The poem contains many famous lines.
Include
(obsolete) To enclose, confine.
Contain
To hold or keep within limits; restrain
I could hardly contain my curiosity.
Include
(obsolete) To conclude; to terminate.
Contain
To halt the spread or development of; check
Science sought an effective method of containing the disease.
Include
(programming) To use a directive that allows the use of source code from another file.
You have to include the strings library to use this function.
Contain
To check the expansion or influence of (a hostile power or ideology) by containment.
Include
(programming) A piece of source code or other content that is dynamically retrieved for inclusion in another item.
Contain
(Mathematics) To be exactly divisible by.
Include
To confine within; to hold; to contain; to shut up; to inclose; as, the shell of a nut includes the kernel; a pearl is included in a shell.
Contain
(transitive) To hold inside.
Include
To comprehend or comprise, as a genus the species, the whole a part, an argument or reason the inference; to contain; to embrace; as, this volume of Shakespeare includes his sonnets; he was included in the invitation to the family; to and including page twenty-five.
The whole included race, his purposed prey.
The loss of such a lord includes all harm.
Contain
(transitive) To include as a part.
Include
To conclude; to end; to terminate.
Come, let us go; we will include all jarsWith triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity.
Contain
(transitive) To put constraints upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!
Include
Have as a part, be made up out of;
The list includes the names of many famous writers
Contain
To have as an element or subset.
A group contains a unique inverse for each of its elements.
If that subgraph contains the vertex in question then it must be spanning.
Include
Consider as part of something;
I include you in the list of culprits
Contain
To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
Include
Add as part of something else; put in as part of a set, group, or category;
We must include this chemical element in the group
Contain
To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold.
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house!
When that this body did contain a spirit.
What thy stores contain bring forth.
Include
Allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of;
Admit someone to the profession
She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar
Contain
To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
Contain
To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds.
The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves.
Contain
To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
But if they can not contain, let them marry.
Contain
Include or contain; have as a component;
A totally new idea is comprised in this paper
The record contains many old songs from the 1930's
Contain
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Contain
Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits;
Moderate your alcohol intake
Hold your tongue
Hold your temper
Control your anger
Contain
Be divisible by;
24 contains 6
Contain
Be capable of holding or containing;
This box won't take all the items
The flask holds one gallon
Contain
Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of;
Arrest the downward trend
Check the growth of communism in Sout East Asia
Contain the rebel movement
Turn back the tide of communism
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to include something?
It means to add or consider something as part of a group or collection.
Is include more about expansion and contain more about limitation?
Yes, include typically implies expansion by addition, whereas contain implies limitation by enclosing.
Can something include and contain at the same time?
Yes, for example, a database can include data and contain it within its structure.
What is the primary difference between include and contain?
Include refers to adding or being part of a larger whole, while contain refers to holding something within limits.
How do the implications of include and contain differ in everyday language?
Include often feels more inclusive and broad, while contain can feel more restrictive.
How does contain work in the context of data structures?
It refers to managing and holding data within a defined structure like an array or list.
How do usage contexts differ for include and contain in recipes?
Include is used for adding ingredients, while contain refers to what elements the dish holds, important for dietary considerations.
What does include mean in legal documents?
It specifies that certain terms or conditions are part of the document.
Does contain imply physical boundaries?
Often, it implies physical or metaphorical boundaries that something does not exceed.
How does include work in programming?
It involves bringing the contents of one file into another, typically using a directive in coding.
What does contain mean in legal terms?
It refers to the elements that are bound by the document's scope.
Can a container both include and contain items?
Yes, it can include items as part of a set and contain them within its physical limits.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
