verb (used with object),held;held or (Archaic) hold·en;hold·ing.
to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his.
to set aside; reserve or retain: to hold merchandise until called for; to hold a reservation.
to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means.
to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound.
to detain: The police held him at the station house.
to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting.
to keep back from action; hinder; restrain: Fear held him from acting.
to have the ownership or use of; keep as one's own; occupy: to hold political office.
to contain or be capable of containing: This bottle holds a quart.
to bind or make accountable to an obligation: We will hold you to your promise to pay back the money.
to have or keep in the mind; think or believe: We hold this belief.
to regard or consider: to hold a person responsible.
to decide legally.
to consider of a certain value; rate: We held her best of all the applicants.
to keep forcibly, as against an adversary: Enemy forces held the hill.
to point, aim, or direct: He held a gun on the prisoner. The firefighter held a hose on the blaze.
Music. to sustain (a note, chord, or rest).
to omit from the usual order or combination: Give me a burger well-done—hold the pickle.
verb (used without object),held;held or (Archaic) hold·en;hold·ing.
to remain or continue in a specified state, relation, etc.: Hold still while I take your picture.
to remain fast; adhere; cling: Will this button hold?
to keep or maintain a grasp on something.
to maintain one's position against opposition; continue in resistance.
to agree or side (usually followed by with): to hold with new methods.
to hold property by some tenure; derive title (usually followed by by, from, in, or of).
to remain attached, faithful, or steadfast (usually followed by to): to hold to one's purpose.
to remain valid; be in force: The rule does not hold.
to refrain or forbear (usually used imperatively).
noun
an act of holding fast by a grasp of the hand or by some other physical means; grasp; grip: Take hold. Do you have a hold on the rope?
something to hold a thing by, as a handle; something to grasp, especially for support.
something that holds fast or supports something else.
an order reserving something: to put a hold on a library book.
Finance. a security purchased or recommended for long-term growth.
a controlling force or dominating influence: to have a hold on a person.
Wrestling. a method of seizing an opponent and keeping him in control: a toe hold.
Music. fermata.
a pause or delay, as in a continuing series: a hold in the movements of a dance.
a prison or prison cell.
a receptacle for something: a basket used as a hold for letters.
Rocketry. a halt in the prelaunch countdown, either planned or unexpectedly called, to allow correction of one or more faults in the rocket or missile.
a fortified place; stronghold.
(on telephones with two or more lines) a feature that enables a person to maintain a connection on one line while answering another line.
Verb Phrases
hold back,
to restrain or check: Police held back the crowd.
to retain possession of; keep back: He held back ten dollars.
to refrain from revealing; withhold: to hold back information.
to refrain from participating or engaging in some activity: He held back from joining in the singing because he felt depressed.
Photography.dodge (def. 2).
hold down,
to restrain; check: Hold down that noise!
to continue to hold and manage well: She held down that job for years.
hold forth,
to extend or offer; propose.
to talk at great length; harangue: When we left, he was still holding forth on World War II.
hold in,
to restrain; check; curb.
to contain oneself; exercise restraint: He was raging inside, but held himself in for fear of saying something he would regret.
hold off,
to keep at a distance; resist; repel.
to postpone action; defer: If you hold off applying for a passport, you may not get one in time.
hold on,
to keep a firm grip on.
to keep going; continue.
to maintain, as one's opinion or position.
to stop; halt (usually used imperatively): Hold on now! That isn't what I meant at all.
to keep a telephone connection open by not hanging up the receiver: The operator asked us to hold on while the number we'd dialed was being checked.
hold out,
to present; offer.
to stretch forth; extend: Hold out your hand.
to continue to exist; last: Will the food hold out?
to refuse to yield or submit: The defenders held out for weeks.
to withhold something expected or due: He was suspected of holding out information important to the case.
hold over,
to keep for future consideration or action; postpone.
to remain in possession or in office beyond the regular term.
to remain beyond the arranged period: The movie was held over for a week.
Music.to prolong (a tone) from one measure to the next.
hold up,
to offer; give: She held up his father as an example to follow.
to present to notice; expose: to hold someone up to ridicule.
to hinder; delay: The plane's departure was held up because of the storm.
to stop by force in order to rob.
to support; uphold: to hold up farm prices.
to stop; halt: They held up at the gate.
to maintain one's position or condition; endure: They held up through all their troubles.
hold with,
to be in agreement with; concur with: I don't hold with his pessimistic views.
to approve of; condone: They won't hold with such a travesty of justice.
Idioms for hold
get hold of,
to get a hold on: Get hold of the railing.
to communicate with, especially by telephone: If she's not at home, try to get hold of her at the office.
hold one's own. own (def. 11).
hold one's peace. peace (def. 14).
hold one's tongue. tongue (def. 33).
hold water. water (def. 37).
no holds barred, without limits, rules, or restraints.
on hold,
in or into a state of temporary interruption or suspension: The project will be put on hold until funds become available.
Telecommunications.in or into a state of temporary interruption in a telephone connection: I'm putting you on hold to answer another call.Compare call waiting.
Origin of hold
1
before 900; Middle English holden,Old English h(e)aldan; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Norse halda,Old Saxon, Gothic haldan,Old High German haltan (German halten)
SYNONYMS FOR hold
8 possess, own.
11 embrace, espouse, have.
12 deem, esteem, judge.
19 persist, last, endure.
20 stick.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hold ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for hold
8. See have. 9. See contain. 11. See maintain.
OTHER WORDS FROM hold
hold·a·ble,adjective
Words nearby hold
Holarctic, Holbein, Holberg, Holbrook, HOLC, hold, hold a candle to, not, hold against, hold a grudge, hold a gun to someone's head, holdall
Definition for hold (2 of 2)
hold2
[ hohld ]
/ hoʊld /
noun
Nautical.
the entire cargo space in the hull of a vessel.
the cargo space in the hull of a vessel between the lowermost deck and the bottom.
any individual compartment of such cargo spaces, closed by bulkheads and having its own hatchway.
Aviation. the cargo compartment of an aircraft.
Origin of hold
2
1585–95; variant of hole; cognate with Dutch hol hole, hold
Observations they had planned for the spring were put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic.
Phosphine gas found in Venus’ atmosphere may be ‘a possible sign of life’|Lisa Grossman|September 14, 2020|Science News
They are readily available, and I never have to wait on hold for an hour.
Only three of 26 Obamacare-era nonprofit health insurance co-ops will soon remain|lbelanger225|September 6, 2020|Fortune
Hartman said he was told the hold was due to unspecified operational issues.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine enters final-stage trial in the U.S.|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 1, 2020|Fortune
His factory, which employs 14 people, was shut for more than two months, with most first-half orders put on hold.
Can Italy’s Fashion Artisans Survive COVID?|Charu Kasturi|August 30, 2020|Ozy
In March, as the Coronavirus crisis was beginning to take hold, agencies conducted tests to see how viable remote work was before sending employees home for what many thought would be just a few weeks.
‘Necessary to attract talent’: How agencies are managing employees’ requests to move to different states|Kristina Monllos|August 26, 2020|Digiday
Tomorrow they should hold placards of the cartoons Charlie Hebdo had printed.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But how much they have regained or how durable their hold is remains unclear.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But that would now have to be put on hold because he had been shot in the Bronx.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It used to carry livestock but sailed its final voyage with a hold full of Syrian men, women, and children.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Carl had to go to the very top of the pole, and then had some difficulty in tearing her from her hold.
O Pioneers!|Willa Cather
Frantically, she looked around for something to hold it shut.
The Saracen: The Holy War|Robert Shea
And he retained his hold of my jacket, giving directions to his men the while.
The Pilots of Pomona|Robert Leighton
Jerry related what he had heard about the plans of the athletic club to hold an out-door meet on their grounds three weeks hence.
The Motor Boys|Clarence Young
Books which are to be overcast and which have had the backs cut off are slightly glued to hold the leaves together.
Library Bookbinding|Arthur Low Bailey
British Dictionary definitions for hold (1 of 2)
hold1
/ (həʊld) /
verbholds, holdingorheld (hɛld)
to have or keep (an object) with or within the hands, arms, etc; clasp
(tr)to support or bearto hold a drowning man's head above water
to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or conditionto hold one's emotions in check; hold firm
(tr)to set aside or reservethey will hold our tickets until tomorrow
(when intr, usually used in commands)to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etchold that man until the police come
(intr)to remain fast or unbrokenthat cable won't hold much longer
(intr)(of the weather) to remain dry and brighthow long will the weather hold?
(tr)to keep the attention ofher singing held the audience
(tr)to engage in or carry onto hold a meeting
(tr)to have the ownership, possession, etc, ofhe holds a law degree from London; who's holding the ace of spades?
(tr)to have the use of or responsibility forto hold the office of director
(tr)to have the space or capacity forthe carton will hold only eight books
(tr)to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etche can hold his drink well
(often foll by to or by) to remain or cause to remain committed tohold him to his promise; he held by his views in spite of opposition
(tr; takes a clause as object)to claimhe holds that the theory is incorrect
(intr)to remain relevant, valid, or truethe old philosophies don't hold nowadays
(tr)to keep in the mindto hold affection for someone
(tr)to regard or consider in a specified mannerI hold him very dear
(tr)to guard or defend successfullyhold the fort against the attack
(intr)to continue to gohold on one's way
(sometimes foll by on)musicto sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified durationto hold on a semibreve for its full value
(tr)computingto retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same deviceCompare clear (def. 49)
(tr)to be in possession of illegal drugs
hold fororhold good forto apply or be relevant tothe same rules hold for everyone
holding thumbsSouthern Africanholding the thumb of one hand with the other, in the hope of bringing good luck
hold it!
stop! wait!
stay in the same position! as when being photographed
hold one's head highto conduct oneself in a proud and confident manner
hold one's ownto maintain one's situation or position esp in spite of opposition or difficulty
hold one's peaceorhold one's tongueto keep silent
hold waterto prove credible, logical, or consistent
there is no holding himhe is so spirited or resolute that he cannot be restrained
noun
the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands
something to hold onto, as for support or control
an object or device that holds fast or grips something else so as to hold it fast
controlling force or influenceshe has a hold on him
a short delay or pause
a prison or a cell in a prison
wrestlinga way of seizing one's opponenta wrist hold
musica pause or fermata
a tenure or holding, esp of land
(in combination)leasehold; freehold; copyhold
a container
archaica fortified place
get hold of
to obtain
to come into contact with
no holds barredall limitations removed
on holdin a state of temporary postponement or delay
See also hold back, hold down, hold forth, hold in, hold off, hold on, hold out, hold over, hold together, hold-up, hold with
Derived forms of hold
holdable, adjective
Word Origin for hold
Old English healdan; related to Old Norse halla, Gothic haldan, German halten