continental

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl/ 🇺🇸 /ˌkɑntəˈnɛntəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Of, relating to, or characteristic of a continent, especially the European mainland as distinct from the British Isles.; Of or relating to the American colonies during the Revolutionary War period, especially the Continental Congress or Continental Army.
  2. noun
    A native or inhabitant of a continent, especially of continental Europe.; A paper currency issued by the Continental Congress during the American Revolution, which became nearly worthless.; A soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: continentals Comparative: more continental Superlative: most continental

Collocations

continental driftcontinental breakfastcontinental shelfcontinental climatecontinental dividecontinental Europe

Derivatives

continentallyintercontinentalsubcontinentaltranscontinental

Synonyms

mainlandcontinental European

Antonyms

insularoceanicmaritime

Commonly confused

continual
EN: 'Continual' means happening repeatedly with intervals; 'continental' relates to a continent or continental Europe.
continuous
EN: 'Continuous' means without interruption; 'continental' relates to a landmass or its characteristics.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'continental' (relating to a continent) with 'continual' (recurring) or 'continuous' (uninterrupted)—they share a root but have very different meanings.

💬 Examples

  1. They enjoyed a continental breakfast of croissants and coffee.

  2. George Washington was appointed commander of the Continental Army.

  3. The continentals had different customs from the islanders.

  4. The phrase 'not worth a continental' refers to the depreciated currency.

  5. The continentals endured a harsh winter at Valley Forge.