holding
1 of 2noun
hold·ing ˈhōl-diŋ 
1
a
: land held especially by a vassal or tenant
b
: property (such as land or securities) owned —usually used in plural
2
: a ruling of a court especially on an issue of law raised in a case compare dictum
3
: something that holds
holding
2 of 2adjective
1
: having the effect of holding back or delaying something
the [war] represented a holding action against the spread of world Communism
Sidney Offit
Sidney Offit2
: intended for usually temporary storage or retention
a holding tank
Synonyms
Noun
- doom
- finding
- judgment
- judgement
- ruling
- sentence
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun penalized 10 yards for holding the holding of “not guilty” took everyone by surprise Adjective The troops were engaged in a holding action until reinforcements could arrive.
Recent Examples on the Web Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 The family’s most impressive official holding is the Crown Estate, a portfolio of assets that includes luxurious London properties worth $19.2 billion. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 The royal family's website will change to a black holding page with the statement announcing the Queen's passing. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 8 Sep. 2022 As the Southwest braces for a worsening water crisis, one of its major holding tanks faces a growing identity crisis. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The stein holding contest's early bird pricing is $20, plus a $2.85 fee, and includes a stein filled with beer. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 The Cavaliers had a long pass play called back due to holding, then fumbled a punt snap, giving Westview the ball at the Clackamas 25. Scott Sepich, oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 It couldn’t be determined why the stock exchange filing put the firm’s holdings at 220 million shares before the sale or when Berkshire’s holding was reduced by 5 million shares. Selina Cheng, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 The water then flows from the silo into a large holding pond, where heavier metals and other elements drop out, forming a rainbow sludge. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 Like the non-holding call against TCU on the Frogs’ first touchdown drive. Kirk Bohls, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2020 It was established in 1997 to meet the needs of parents in the community, focusing on activities for parents of children birth to 3 years old and holding interactive sessions each month for families, according to the schools website. Charlie Lapastora, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2018 Here’s how holding office affects Florida lawmakers’ incomes But surprisingly, Florida lawmakers did not boost their incomes while in office. Kevin Fahey, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2017 Please explain how holding secret meetings on the health care bill relates to consent of the governed. Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, 27 June 2017 See More
Noun
On the Bears’ next possession, the 49ers helped fuel the touchdown march with a defensive holding violation by cornerback Charvarius Ward, again in a situation when the 49ers were getting off the field with a third-down stop. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 The family’s most impressive official holding is the Crown Estate, a portfolio of assets that includes luxurious London properties worth $19.2 billion. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 The royal family's website will change to a black holding page with the statement announcing the Queen's passing. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 8 Sep. 2022 As the Southwest braces for a worsening water crisis, one of its major holding tanks faces a growing identity crisis. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The stein holding contest's early bird pricing is $20, plus a $2.85 fee, and includes a stein filled with beer. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 The Cavaliers had a long pass play called back due to holding, then fumbled a punt snap, giving Westview the ball at the Clackamas 25. Scott Sepich, oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 It couldn’t be determined why the stock exchange filing put the firm’s holdings at 220 million shares before the sale or when Berkshire’s holding was reduced by 5 million shares. Selina Cheng, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 The water then flows from the silo into a large holding pond, where heavier metals and other elements drop out, forming a rainbow sludge. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 Adjective
There were seven offensive penalties, most holding or false starts. oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 Like the non-holding call against TCU on the Frogs’ first touchdown drive. Kirk Bohls, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2020 It was established in 1997 to meet the needs of parents in the community, focusing on activities for parents of children birth to 3 years old and holding interactive sessions each month for families, according to the schools website. Charlie Lapastora, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2018 Here’s how holding office affects Florida lawmakers’ incomes But surprisingly, Florida lawmakers did not boost their incomes while in office. Kevin Fahey, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2017 Please explain how holding secret meetings on the health care bill relates to consent of the governed. Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, 27 June 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing holding
Legal Definition
holding 1 of 2
noun
hold·ing
1
: a ruling of a court upon an issue of law raised in a case : the pronouncement of law supported by the reasoning in a court's opinion compare decision, dictum, disposition, finding, judgment, opinion, ruling, verdict
2
: any property that is owned or possessed —usually used in pl.
an increase in the company's holdings
holding
2 of 2adjective
: intended for temporary custody or detention
a holding facility
a holding cell
holding 1 of 2
noun
1
as in ruling
a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard the court's holding was based on an interpretation of the First Amendment Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ruling
- finding
- sentence
- verdict
- judgment
- decision
- judgement
- doom
- declaration
- opinion
- pronouncement
- injunction
- determination
- decree
- inquest
- deliverance
- punishment
- award
- order
- resolution
- edict
- authority
- discipline
- conclusion
- arbitrament
- dictum
- penalty
2
as in possession
usually holdings plural transportable items that one owns the museum's holdings of ancient manuscripts are among the rarest in the world Synonyms & Similar Words
- possession
- personal property
- things
- plunder
- personal effects
- effects
- treasures
- belongings
- paraphernalia
- gear
- personalty
- chattels
- goods
- moveables
- movables
- stuff
- fixtures
- duds
- property
- furnishings
- estate
- appointments
- valuables
- collateral
- tangibles
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- real estate
- immovables
holding
2 of 2verb
1
as in clutching
to have or keep in one's hands this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder Synonyms & Similar Words
- clutching
- clenching
- gripping
- grabbing
- carrying
- cradling
- taking
- snatching
- hugging
- grasping
- clasping
- capturing
- trapping
- seizing
- handling
- bagging
- catching
- clinging (to)
- holding on to
- nabbing
- grappling
- hooking
- nailing
- corralling
- snaring
- feeling
- pawing
- hanging on to
- landing
- bearing
- embracing
- fingering
- collaring
- latching (on or onto)
- snapping (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- giving
- handing
- dropping
- unclasping
- releasing
- delivering
- relinquishing
- yielding
- rendering
- ceding
- unhanding
- handing out
- handing over
- turning over
- giving up
2
as in keeping
to continue to have in one's possession or power she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest Synonyms & Similar Words
- keeping
- retaining
- possessing
- preserving
- having
- saving
- reserving
- withholding
- protecting
- guarding
- conserving
- owning
- enjoying
- controlling
- managing
- hugging
- holding on to
- detaining
- directing
- boasting
- hanging on to
- cherishing
- commanding
- ruling
- harboring
- treasuring
- bearing
- clinging (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- releasing
- relinquishing
- yielding
- surrendering
- giving
- dropping
- abandoning
- contributing
- ceding
- dumping
- donating
- handing over
- discarding
- rejecting
- losing
- declining
- handing out
- repudiating
- giving up
- spurning
3
as in believing
to have as an opinion "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" Synonyms & Similar Words
- believing
- thinking
- considering
- guessing
- imagining
- figuring
- feeling
- deeming
- supposing
- judging
- perceiving
- conceiving
- accepting
- allowing
- relying
- viewing
- assuming
- regarding
- trusting
- presuming
- reckoning
- depending
- esteeming
- inferring
- deducing
- presupposing
- concluding
- surmising
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- questioning
- suspecting
- doubting
- rejecting
- distrusting
- discrediting
- mistrusting
- disbelieving
4
as in containing
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions Synonyms & Similar Words
- containing
- boasting
- bearing
- housing
- taking
- enclosing
- fitting
- encompassing
- encasing
- sheltering
- accommodating
- harboring
- casing
- lodging
- inclosing
5
as in having
to keep in one's mind or heart still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted Synonyms & Similar Words
- having
- retaining
- cherishing
- harboring
- keeping
- carrying
- bearing
- cultivating
- maintaining
- entertaining
- nursing
- hugging
- sustaining
- remembering
- preserving
- supporting
- fostering
- nurturing
- treasuring
- holding on to
- hanging on to
- sticking (to)
- cleaving (to)
- clinging (to)
- fixating (on or upon)
- obsessing (about or over)
- brooding (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- dropping
- forgetting
- disregarding
- denying
- refusing
- neglecting
- overlooking
- rejecting
- declining
- abandoning
- repudiating
- scorning
- discarding
- renouncing
- disdaining
- forsaking
- deserting
- throwing out
- quitting
- abjuring
- erasing
- parting (with)
- expunging
- giving up
6
as in owning
to keep, control, or experience as one's own the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years Synonyms & Similar Words
- having
- owning
- retaining
- possessing
- enjoying
- keeping
- commanding
- carrying
- withholding
- reserving
- rejoicing in
- sporting
- bearing
- boasting
- showing off
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wanting
- lacking
- relinquishing
- yielding
- abandoning
- dumping
- surrendering
- renouncing
- discarding
- ceding
- rejecting
- requiring
- declining
- needing
- handing over
- disclaiming
- disowning
- repudiating
- spurning
7
as in accommodating
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people Synonyms & Similar Words
- accommodating
- taking
- containing
- seating
- carrying
- fitting
- enclosing
- housing
- encompassing
- enfolding
- harboring
- inclosing
8
as in grasping
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms please hold my arm on these slippery stairs Synonyms & Similar Words
- grasping
- taking
- clasping
- gripping
- clutching
- clenching
- catching
- snatching
- seizing
- laying hold of
- nabbing
- hanging on to
- holding on (to)
- clinging (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- releasing
- dropping
- discharging
- freeing
- giving
- handing
- liberating
- transferring
- delivering
- relinquishing
- passing
- transmitting
- entrusting
- handing over
- intrusting
- unhanding
- turning over
9
as in considering
to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state Synonyms & Similar Words
- considering
- calling
- regarding
- viewing
- counting
- believing
- accounting
- feeling
- thinking
- taking for
- deeming
- rating
- imagining
- sensing
- setting down
- esteeming
- reckoning
- looking (on or upon)
- fancying
- conceiving
10
as in controlling
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside hold your temper until you hear the whole story Synonyms & Similar Words
- controlling
- containing
- keeping
- regulating
- restraining
- curbing
- measuring
- suppressing
- checking
- taming
- governing
- stifling
- constraining
- inhibiting
- ruling
- stopping
- bridling
- pulling in
- swallowing
- interrupting
- repressing
- strangling
- smothering
- impeding
- squelching
- blocking
- pocketing
- hindering
- holding back
- obstructing
- reining (in)
- hampering
- mincing
- handcuffing
- muffling
- arresting
- silencing
- sinking
- gagging
- choking (back)
- muzzling
- bottling (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- losing
- loosening
- expressing
- liberating
- unleashing
- loosing
- taking out
- airing
- venting
11
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal held the camera on the actor throughout the scene Synonyms & Similar Words
- aiming
- casting
- directing
- bending
- heading
- setting
- training
- focusing
- pinpointing
- steering
- facing
- concentrating
- leveling
- bearing
- levelling
- orienting
- focussing
- sighting
- inclining
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deflecting
- diverting
- curving
- shunting
- averting
- detouring
- rechanneling
- sidetracking