hold

1 of 3

verb

ˈhōld 

held ˈheld  ; holding

transitive verb

1

a

: to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal

holds property worth millions

the bank holds the title to the car

b

: to have as a privilege or position of responsibility

hold a professorship

c

: to have as a mark of distinction

holds the record for the 100-yard dash

holds a PhD

2

: to keep under restraint

hold price increases to a minimum

: such as

a

: to prevent free expression of

hold your temper

b

: to prevent from some action

ordered the troops to hold fire

the only restraining motive which may hold the hand of a tyrant

—Thomas Jefferson

c

: to keep back from use

ask them to hold a room for us

I'll have a hot dog, and hold the mustard

d

: to delay temporarily the handling of

please hold all my calls

3

: to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation

I'll hold you to your promise

4

a

: to have or maintain in the grasp

hold my hand

this is how you hold the racket

also : aim, point

held a gun on them

b

: to support in a particular position or keep from falling or moving

hold me up so I can see

hold the ladder steady

a clamp holds the whole thing together

hold your head up

c

: to bear the pressure of : support

can the roof hold all of that weight

5

: to prevent from leaving or getting away

hold the train

: such as

a

: to avoid emitting or letting out

how long can you hold your breath

b

: to restrain as or as if a captive

the suspect was held without bail

held them at gunpoint

also : to have strong appeal to

the book held my interest throughout

6

a

: to enclose and keep in a container or within bounds : contain

the jug holds one gallon

this corral will not hold all of the horses

b

: to be able to consume easily or without undue effect

can't hold any more pie

especially : to be able to drink (alcoholic beverages) without becoming noticeably drunk

can't hold your liquor

c

: accommodate

the restaurant holds 400 diners

d

: to have as a principal or essential feature or attribute

the book holds a number of surprises

also : to have in store

no one knows what the future holds

7

a

: to have in the mind or express as a judgment, opinion, or belief

I hold the view that this is wrong

hold a grudge

holding that it is nobody's business but his

—Jack Olsen

—often used with against

in America they hold everything you say against you

—Paul McCartney

b

: to think of in a particular way : regard

were held in high esteem

8

a

: to assemble for and carry on the activity of

held a convention

b

: to cause to be carried on : conduct

will hold a seminar

c

: to produce or sponsor especially as a public exhibition

will hold an art show

9

a

: to maintain occupation, control, or defense of

the troops held the ridge

also : to resist the offensive efforts or advance of

held the opposing team to just two points

b

: to maintain (a certain condition, situation, or course of action) without change

hold a course due east

10

: to cover (a part of the body) with one or both hands (as for protection or comfort)

held his knee after the fall

especially : to cover (the ears) to prevent hearing

held her ears when the train went by

intransitive verb

1

a

: to maintain position : refuse to give ground

the defensive line is holding

b

: to continue in the same way or to the same degree : last entry 1

hopes the weather will hold

—often used with up

2

: to derive right or title

—often used with of or from

lands held of the Crown

3

: to be or remain valid : apply

the rule holds in most cases

—often used in the phrase hold true

4

: to maintain a grasp on something : remain fastened to something

the anchor held in the rough sea

5

: to go ahead as one has been going

held south for several miles

6

: to bear or carry oneself

asked him to hold still

7

: to forbear an intended or threatened action : halt, pause

—often used as a command

8

: to stop counting during a countdown

9

slang : to have illicit drug material in one's possession

hold

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: stronghold sense 1

2

a

: confinement, custody

b

: prison

3

a(1)

: the act or the manner of grasping something (as in the hands or arms) : grip

released his hold on the handle

took hold of the rope

(2)

: a manner of grasping an opponent in wrestling

applied an illegal hold

b

: a nonphysical bond that attaches, restrains, or constrains or by which something is affected, controlled, or dominated

trying to tighten her hold on the company's finances

has lost its hold on the broad public

—Oscar Cargill

c

: full comprehension

get hold of exactly what is happening

—J. P. Lyford

d

: full or immediate control : possession

get hold of yourself

wants to get hold of a road map

e

: touch sense 8

—used with of

tried to get hold of you, but you never answered your phone

4

: something that may be grasped as a support

searched for holds in the rock

5

a

music : fermata

b

: the time between the onset and the release (see release entry 2 sense 3c) of a vocal articulation (see articulation sense 3b)

6

: a sudden motionless posture at the end of a dance

7

a

: an order or indication that something is to be reserved or delayed

I asked the library to put a hold on the book for me.

b

: a delay in a countdown (as in launching a spacecraft)

see also take hold

hold

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: the interior of a ship below decks

especially : the cargo deck of a ship

2

: the cargo compartment of a plane

Phrases

hold a brief for

: advocate, defend

—usually used in negative constructions

I hold no brief for cartels and market allocations

—J. D. Upham

hold a candle to

: to qualify for comparison with

doesn't hold a candle to what she has suffered

hold court

: to be the center of attention among friends or admirers

hold forth

: to speak at length : expatiate

holding forth on the subject of politics

hold hands

: to engage one's hand with another's especially as an expression of affection

hold one's breath

1

: to prevent oneself from breathing temporarily

2

: to wait in anxious anticipation

hold one's horses

: to slow down or stop for a moment

—usually used in the imperative

hold one's own

: to maintain one's position : prove equal to opposition

prove I can hold my own with the best of them

hold one's tongue or hold one's peace

: to keep silent : keep one's thoughts to oneself

hold sway

: to have a dominant influence : rule

hold the bag

1

: to be left empty-handed

2

: to bear alone a responsibility that should have been shared by others

She was left holding the bag for their mistakes.

hold the fort

1

: to maintain a firm position

2

: to take care of usual affairs

is holding the fort until the manager returns

hold the line

: to maintain the current position or situation

hold the line on prices

hold to

: to give firm assent to : adhere to strongly

holds to his promise

hold to account

: to hold responsible

hold water

: to stand up under criticism or analysis

Their version of events doesn't hold water.

hold with

: to agree with or approve of

don't hold with violence

on hold

1

: in a state of interruption during a telephone call when one party switches to another line without totally disconnecting the other party

put me on hold while he talked to his supervisor

2

: in a state or period of indefinite suspension

put our plans on hold

Synonyms

Verb

• clench
• cling (to)
• clutch
• grip

Noun (1)

• clasp
• clench
• grapple
• grasp
• grip
• handgrip
• handhold

Choose the Right Synonym for hold

contain, hold, accommodate mean to have or be capable of having within.

contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.

the can contains a quart of oil

hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

Examples of hold in a Sentence

Verb

Hold the rail so you won't fall.

He was holding a large package in his arms.

Would you hold this for me?

She showed him the correct way to hold the racket.

Some people just don't like to be held.

He held her close and kissed her.

He held the pen in his mouth while he dialed the number.

Hold the pen upright when you write.

She picked up the trophy and held it over her head.

You have to hold the button down for several seconds.

Noun (1)

make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on

the ruins of an ancient Roman hold

the government has no hold over where we live and work

I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency

upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life

I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action

a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Taking care of the unfinished business holding you back is up to you. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

In other stories a tour guide holds tourists hostage in a creepy cemetery and a teenager tries to find her mother, missing from their hotel in Cancun. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024

Noun

Shelly put college and her plans to become a nurse on hold to care for her babies. —Susan Young, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

The election case against Trump in Georgia is on hold until an appeal seeking Willis' disqualification from the racketeering case is resolved. —Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English holden, going back to Old English healdan, going back to Germanic *hald-a-, whence also Old High German haltan "to protect, guard, hold," Old Saxon haldan, Old Norse halda, Gothic haldan "to tend, graze (cattle)"; perhaps, if -d- (going back to Indo-European *-d^h-) is a root extension with resultative meaning, a derivative from the Indo-European base *kelh₁- "set in motion," with sense shift from "pasture" to "keep, protect" to "hold" — more at accelerate

Noun (2)

alteration of hole

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hold

• choke hold
• cop hold of
• get a hold of
• get a hold of oneself
• get hold of
• get hold of oneself
• grab hold of
• have/hold the lead
• have/hold/want no truck with
• hold against
• hold (all/all of) the cards
• hold all the aces
• hold a quiet conversation
• hold back
• hold back one's tears
• hold back (someone or something )
• hold/control the purse strings
• hold down
• hold down the fort
• hold everything
• hold firm
• hold good
• hold/hang on a minute
• hold/hang on a moment
• hold/have promise
• hold in
• hold it
• hold it/that against
• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest
• hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest
• hold no terror(s)
• hold off
• hold off on
• hold on
• hold one's fire
• hold one's head (up) high
• hold one's liquor
• hold one's nose
• hold on to
• hold out
• hold out for
• hold out on
• hold over
• hold/put a gun to someone's head
• hold (someone or something) in high regard
• hold (someone) responsible
• hold (someone) up to (public) ridicule
• hold the baby
• hold the floor
• hold the master key
• hold the mayo
• hold the reins
• hold the world/Olympic record
• hold together
• hold true
• hold-up
• hold up one's head
• keep/hold in check
• lay hold of
• loosen one's grip/hold
• on hold
• play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest
• put a hold on
• scissors hold
• seize hold of
• take hold

Kids Definition

hold

1 of 3 verb

ˈhōld 

held ˈheld  ; holding

1

a

: to keep in one's possession : possess, have

hold this for me

b

: to have by right

hold property

hold a bachelor's degree

hold elective office

2

a

: to keep or restrict by force

the troops held the bridge

b

: to restrain especially by keeping back

hold your temper

c

: delay entry 2 sense 2

held the train

d

: to keep back from use

will hold the seats for us

e

: to make accept a legal or moral duty

I'll hold you to your word

3

a

: to have or keep in the grasp

hold the pen upright

b

: to cause to be or remain in a place, position, or situation

hold the ladder steady

c

: to remain fastened

the anchor held

d

: support entry 1 sense 4a, sustain

the floor will hold 10 metric tons

e

: to keep as or as if a captive

held without bail

4

: to bear or carry oneself

please hold still

5

a

: to keep up without interruption

hold silence

b

: to keep the interest or devotion of

the play held the audience

6

: to receive and contain

the bottle holds two liters

7

a

: to have in mind : entertain

hold a theory

b

: consider sense 3, judge

was held to be the best

8

: to carry on as a group

hold a meeting

9

a

: to maintain position

the line held under attack

b

: to continue unchanged : last

their interest held up

hope the weather holds

10

: to be true : apply

the rule holds in most cases

11

: to refrain from an act : halt, pause

hold

2 of 3 noun

1

: fortress, stronghold

2

: the act or manner of holding : grip, grasp

have a hold on the rope

3

: a manner of grasping the opponent in wrestling

4

a

: full or immediate control

get hold of yourself

b

: touch sense 4

trying to get a hold of you

5

: a bond that affects or controls : power

the law has no hold over this person

6

: something that may be grasped or held

7

: a note or rest in music that is continued longer than usual

8

a

: an order or indication that something is to be reserved or delayed

b

: stoppage, halt

a hold in a rocket countdown

hold

3 of 3 noun

1

: the interior of a ship below decks

especially : the cargo deck of a ship

2

: the cargo compartment of an airplane

Etymology

Verb

Old English healdan "to hold, own"

Noun

an altered form of hole

Legal Definition

hold

transitive verb

held; holding

1

a

: to have lawful possession or ownership of

held the property as tenants in common

the band holds the title to the car

b

: to have as a privilege or position of responsibility

holding a retail liquor license

the judges…shall hold their offices during good behavior

—U.S. Constitution art. III

2

: to restrain the liberty of

specifically : to keep in custody

the defendant will be held without bail

3

: to cause to be conducted

will hold a hearing on the matter

4

: to rule as the holding of a case

the court held that such conduct violated the statute

compare decide, find