-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mpn+0xYlitsbw1jktkmoqy0sGfiaSgdA6asIdwjx78ZtLGvwpKMb/3ahO/eMTzEW
 gy2lxAQIDNbtDAVk81pw6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000018926-03-000050.txt : 20030806
<SEC-HEADER>0000018926-03-000050.hdr.sgml : 20030806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030806125106
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000018926-03-000050
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07784
		FILM NUMBER:		03825628

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>per239.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-06</periodOfReport>
	<dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-06-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
	<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>100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONROE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>71203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Exec. VP, CAO, Gen. Counsel</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy).2</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>34.63</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-06-06</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>53334</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
					<footnoteId id="F2"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2004-06-05</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>53334.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By Spouse</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Employee Stock Option(right to buy).1</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>32.99</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-06-06</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>53334</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
					<footnoteId id="F3"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2004-06-05</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>53334.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By Spouse</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Exercisable immediately</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">The per share price for 27,078 of such options was $2.41, for 16,980 of such options ws $2.68 and for 9,276 of such options was $2.54.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">The per share price for 27,077 of such options was $3.21, for 16,981 of such options was $3.48 and for 9,276 of such options was $3.34.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Kay C. Buchart, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2004-08-06</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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