-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L2hkmT9fxfcIe0OWVFCdJ//b0+8W4YLSLzVqXXpLkO4tUEazOMWRbIiI/YxkM7ZK
 g64rxoaL8zKXv9eBd4EYVw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018926-03-000037.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0000018926-03-000037.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515114356
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018926-03-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERRY HARVEY P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202859

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07784
		FILM NUMBER:		03702165

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 CENTURYTEL DRIVE
		CITY:			MONROE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURYTEL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018926
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				720651161
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 4065
		STREET 2:		100 CENTURYTEL DR
		CITY:			MONROE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3183889000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CENTURYTEL DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4065
		CITY:			MONROE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL TELEPHONE & ELECTRONICS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720512
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>per220.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-05-15</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>		<issuerCik>0000018926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURYTEL INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>CTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
			<rptOwnerCik>0001202859</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERRY HARVEY P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Exec. VP, CAO, Gen. Counsel</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-15</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>5000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>17.64</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>51467.13</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-15</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>5000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>32.70</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>46467.13</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>17.64</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-15</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>5000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>0</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>1995-11-22</value>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2005-05-22</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>5000.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>2641.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: by Kay C. Buchart, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-05-15</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----