contain oneself

verb

To exercise restraint in the expression one's emotions

“I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!”

Similar
help oneself
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Meanings

verbcontain oneself (third-person singular simple present contains oneself, present participle containing oneself, simple past and past participle contained oneself)

present singular third person contains oneself · participle present containing oneself · participle past contained oneself · past contained oneself

  1. reflexiveTo exercise restraint in the expression one's emotions

    I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

    Synonyms: help oneself

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo exercise restraint in the expression one's emotions

Similar
help oneself
Also see
help oneself

Translations

Spanish contenerse (a sí mismo)
  • contenerse (a sí mismo)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

contain oneself. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contain%20oneself

MLA

“contain oneself.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contain%20oneself. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contain oneself,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contain%20oneself.

Source: contain oneself on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.