1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. Hold

Definition of Hold in English :

Define Hold in English

Hold meaning in English

Meaning of Hold in English

Pronunciation of Hold in English

Hold pronunciation in English

Pronounce Hold in English

Hold

see synonyms of hold

Noun

1. clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold

the act of grasping

Example Sentences:
'he released his clasp on my arm'
'he has a strong grip for an old man'
'she kept a firm hold on the railing'

2. appreciation, grasp, hold

understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

Example Sentences:
'he has a good grasp of accounting practices'

3. hold

power by which something or someone is affected or dominated

Example Sentences:
'he has a hold over them'

4. delay, hold, postponement, time lag, wait

time during which some action is awaited

Example Sentences:
'instant replay caused too long a delay'
'he ordered a hold in the action'

5. custody, detainment, detention, hold

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

Example Sentences:
'his detention was politically motivated'
'the prisoner is on hold'
'he is in the custody of police'

6. hold

a stronghold

7. hold, keep

a cell in a jail or prison

8. grip, handgrip, handle, hold

the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

Example Sentences:
'he grabbed the hammer by the handle'
'it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip'

9. cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, hold, storage area

the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

Verb

10. hold, keep, maintain

keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,

Example Sentences:
'keep clean'
'hold in place'
'She always held herself as a lady'
'The students keep me on my toes'

11. hold, take hold

have or hold in one's hands or grip

Example Sentences:
'Hold this bowl for a moment, please'
'A crazy idea took hold of him'

12. give, have, hold, make, throw

organize or be responsible for

Example Sentences:
'hold a reception'
'have, throw, or make a party'
'give a course'

13. have, have got, hold

have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

Example Sentences:
'She has $1,000 in the bank'
'He has got two beautiful daughters'
'She holds a Master's degree from Harvard'

14. deem, hold, take for, view as

keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

Example Sentences:
'take for granted'
'view as important'
'hold these truths to be self-evident'
'I hold him personally responsible'

15. entertain, harbor, harbour, hold, nurse

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

Example Sentences:
'bear a grudge'
'entertain interesting notions'
'harbor a resentment'

16. confine, hold, restrain

to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement

Example Sentences:
'This holds the local until the express passengers change trains'
'About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade'
'The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center'
'The terrorists held the journalists for ransom'

17. hold, hold back, keep back, retain

secure and keep for possible future use or application

Example Sentences:
'The landlord retained the security deposit'
'I reserve the right to disagree'

18. bear, hold

have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices

Example Sentences:
'She bears the title of Duchess'
'He held the governorship for almost a decade'

19. hold, hold up, support, sustain

be the physical support of; carry the weight of

Example Sentences:
'The beam holds up the roof'
'He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam'
'What's holding that mirror?'

20. bear, carry, contain, hold

contain or hold; have within

Example Sentences:
'The jar carries wine'
'The canteen holds fresh water'
'This can contains water'

21. accommodate, admit, hold

have room for; hold without crowding

Example Sentences:
'This hotel can accommodate 250 guests'
'The theater admits 300 people'
'The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people'

22. hold

remain in a certain state, position, or condition

Example Sentences:
'The weather held'
'They held on the road and kept marching'

23. bear, carry, hold

support or hold in a certain manner

Example Sentences:
'She holds her head high'
'He carried himself upright'

24. hold, obtain, prevail

be valid, applicable, or true

Example Sentences:
'This theory still holds'

25. hold

assert or affirm

Example Sentences:
'Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good'

26. hold

have as a major characteristic

Example Sentences:
'The novel holds many surprises'
'The book holds in store much valuable advise'

27. contain, hold, take

be capable of holding or containing

Example Sentences:
'This box won't take all the items'
'The flask holds one gallon'

28. book, hold, reserve

arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance

Example Sentences:
'reserve me a seat on a flight'
'The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family'
'please hold a table at Maxim's'

29. defend, guard, hold

protect against a challenge or attack

Example Sentences:
'Hold that position behind the trees!'
'Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks'

30. bind, hold, obligate, oblige

bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

Example Sentences:
'He's held by a contract'
'I'll hold you by your promise'

31. hold

hold the attention of

Example Sentences:
'The soprano held the audience'
'This story held our interest'
'She can hold an audience spellbound'

32. hold

remain committed to

Example Sentences:
'I hold to these ideas'

33. defy, hold, hold up, withstand

resist or confront with resistance

Example Sentences:
'The politician defied public opinion'
'The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear'
'The bridge held'

34. apply, go for, hold

be pertinent or relevant or applicable

Example Sentences:
'The same laws apply to you!'
'This theory holds for all irrational numbers'
'The same rules go for everyone'

35. hold

stop dealing with

Example Sentences:
'hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting'

36. check, contain, control, curb, hold, hold in, moderate

lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

Example Sentences:
'moderate your alcohol intake'
'hold your tongue'
'hold your temper'
'control your anger'

37. hold

keep from departing

Example Sentences:
'Hold the taxi'
'Hold the horse'

38. hold

take and maintain control over, often by violent means

Example Sentences:
'The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week'

39. arrest, halt, hold

cause to stop

Example Sentences:
'Halt the engines'
'Arrest the progress'
'halt the presses'

40. hold

cover as for protection against noise or smell

Example Sentences:
'She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate'
'hold one's nose'

41. carry, hold

drink alcohol without showing ill effects

Example Sentences:
'He can hold his liquor'
'he had drunk more than he could carry'

42. hold

aim, point, or direct

Example Sentences:
'Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames'

43. adjudge, declare, hold

declare to be

Example Sentences:
'She was declared incompetent'
'judge held that the defendant was innocent'

44. agree, concord, concur, hold

be in accord; be in agreement

Example Sentences:
'We agreed on the terms of the settlement'
'I can't agree with you!'
'I hold with those who say life is sacred'
'Both philosophers concord on this point'

45. hold

keep from exhaling or expelling

Example Sentences:
'hold your breath'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Hold

see synonyms of hold
verbWord forms: holds, holding or held (hɛld )
1. 
to have or keep (an object) with or within the hands, arms, etc; clasp
2. (transitive)
to support or bear
to hold a drowning man's head above water
3. 
to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or condition
to hold one's emotions in check
hold firm
4. (transitive)
to set aside or reserve
they will hold our tickets until tomorrow
5. (when intr, usually used in commands)
to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etc
hold that man until the police come
6. (intransitive)
to remain fast or unbroken
that cable won't hold much longer
7. (intransitive)
(of the weather) to remain dry and bright
how long will the weather hold?
8. (transitive)
to keep the attention of
her singing held the audience
9. (transitive)
to engage in or carry on
to hold a meeting
10. (transitive)
to have the ownership, possession, etc, of
he holds a law degree from London
who's holding the ace of spades?
11. (transitive)
to have the use of or responsibility for
to hold the office of director
12. (transitive)
to have the space or capacity for
the carton will hold only eight books
13. (transitive)
to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etc
he can hold his drink well
14. (often foll by to or by)
to remain or cause to remain committed to
hold him to his promise
he held by his views in spite of opposition
15. (tr; takes a clause as object)
to claim
he holds that the theory is incorrect
16. (intransitive)
to remain relevant, valid, or true
the old philosophies don't hold nowadays
17. (transitive)
to keep in the mind
to hold affection for someone
18. (transitive)
to regard or consider in a specified manner
I hold him very dear
19. (transitive)
to guard or defend successfully
hold the fort against the attack
20. (intransitive)
to continue to go
hold on one's way
21. (sometimes foll by on) music
to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified duration
to hold on a semibreve for its full value
22. (transitive) computing
to retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same device
Compare clear (sense 49)
23. (transitive)
to be in possession of illegal drugs
24.  hold for
25.  holding thumbs
26.  hold it!
27.  hold one's head high
28.  hold one's own
29.  hold one's peace
30.  hold water
31.  there is no holding him or her
noun
32. 
the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands
33. 
something to hold onto, as for support or control
34. 
an object or device that holds fast or grips something else so as to hold it fast
35. 
controlling force or influence
she has a hold on him
36. 
a short delay or pause
37. 
a prison or a cell in a prison
38. wrestling
a way of seizing one's opponent
a wrist hold
39. music
a pause or fermata
40. 
a. 
a tenure or holding, esp of land
b. 
(in combination)
leasehold
freehold
copyhold
41. 
a container
42. archaic
a fortified place
43.  get hold of
44.  no holds barred
45.  on hold
noun
the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Hold

see synonyms of hold
verb transitiveWord forms: held or ˈholding
1. 
to take and keep with the hands or arms, or by other means; grasp; clutch; seize
2.  US
to keep from going away; not let escape
to hold a prisoner, hold the train
3. 
to keep in a certain place or position, or in a specified condition
to hold one's head up
4. 
to restrain or control
; specif.,
a. 
to keep from falling; bear the weight of; support
pillars holding the roof
b. 
to keep from acting; keep back
hold your tongue
c. 
to keep from advancing or attacking
d. 
to keep from getting an advantage
e. 
to get and keep control of; keep from relaxing
to hold someone's attention
f. 
to continue; maintain
to hold a course
g. 
to sustain or satisfy for the time being
a muffin should hold you until supper time
h.  US
to keep (a letter, etc.) for delivery later
i. 
to keep (a room, etc.) for use later
j. 
to keep under obligation; bind
hold him to his word
k. 
to resist the effects of (alcoholic liquor)
5. 
to have and keep as one's own; have the duties, privileges, etc. of; own; possess; occupy
to hold shares of stock, to hold the office of mayor
6. 
to keep against an enemy; guard; defend
hold the fort
7. 
to have or conduct together
; specif.,
a. 
to carry on (a meeting, conversation, etc.)
b. 
to perform (a function, service, etc.)
to hold classes in the morning
8. 
to call together or preside over
to hold court
9. 
to have or keep within itself; have room or space for; contain
a bottle that holds a quart
10. 
to have or keep in the mind
11. 
to have an opinion or belief about; regard; consider
to hold a statement to be untrue
12.  Law
a. 
to decide; adjudge; decree
b. 
to bind by contract
c. 
to possess by legal title
to hold a mortgage
13.  Music
to prolong (a tone or rest)
verb intransitive
14. 
to retain a hold, a firm contact, etc.
hold tight
15. 
to go on being firm, loyal, etc.
to hold to a resolution
16. 
to remain unbroken or unyielding; not give way
the rope held
17. 
to have right or title
usually with from or of
18. 
to be in effect or in force; be true or valid
a rule that holds in any case
19. 
to keep up; continue [the wind held from the north]
; specif.,
a. 
to remain in the air, waiting to land
a plane held over Boston
b. 
to remain on a telephone line
that line is busy — will you hold?
20.  Archaic
to go no further; stop oneself; halt
usually in the imperative
noun
21. 
the act or manner of grasping or seizing; grip; specif., a way of gripping an opponent in wrestling
22. 
a thing to hold or hold on by
23. 
a thing for holding or containing something else
24. 
a. 
a controlling or dominating force; restraining authority
to have a firm hold over someone
b. 
a being aware or in control
to lose one's hold on life
25. 
a means of confinement; prison
26. 
a temporary halt or delay, as to make repairs, or an order to make such a halt
27. 
an order reserving something
28.  Obsolete
a stronghold
29.  Obsolete
the act or fact of guarding, possessing, etc.
30.  Music
pause (sense 4)
noun
1. 
the interior of a ship below decks, esp. below the lower deck, in which the cargo is carried
2. 
the compartment for cargo in an aircraft

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Hold

see synonyms of hold
v. held (hĕld), hold·ing, holds
v.tr.
1.
a. To have and keep in one's grasp: held the reins tightly.
b. To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire.
c. To keep from falling or moving; support: a nail too small to hold the mirror; hold the horse steady; papers that were held together with staples.
d. To sustain the pressure of: The old bridge can't hold much weight.
2.
a. To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash.
b. To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning.
c. To retain (one's attention or interest): Televised sports can't hold my interest.
d. To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer held her breath while underwater.
3.
a. To be filled by; contain: This drawer holds socks.
b. To be capable of holding: a pitcher that holds a quart. See Synonyms at contain.
c. To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds many surprises.
d. To have in store: Let's see what the future holds.
4.
a. To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
b. To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
c. To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
5.
a. To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
b. To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
c. To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
d. To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
6.
a. To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
b. To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
c. To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
d. To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
7.
a. To own or have title to.
b. To be in possession of, whether legally entitled or not: holds an interest in the company.
c. To bind by a contract.
d. To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
e. To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
8.
a. To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
b. To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
c. To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
9.
a. To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
b. To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
10.
a. To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
b. To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
v.intr.
1.
a. To maintain a grasp or grip on something.
b. To stay securely fastened: The chain held.
2.
a. To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold.
b. To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held. We held firm on the negotiations.
3. To continue in the same direction: The ship held to an easterly course.
4. To be valid, applicable, or true: The observation still holds in cases like this.
5. To halt an intended action. Often used in the imperative.
6. To stop the countdown during a missile or spacecraft launch.
7. Slang To have in one's possession illicit or illegally obtained material or goods, especially narcotics: The suspect was holding.
n.
1.
a. The act or a means of grasping.
b. A manner of grasping an opponent, as in wrestling or aikido: a neck hold; an arm hold.
2. Something that may be grasped or gripped, as for support.
3. A control or adjustor on a television that keeps the screen image in proper position: adjusted the horizontal hold.
4. A telephone service that allows one to temporarily interrupt a call without severing the connection.
5.
a. A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on her readership.
b. Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues.
c. Full understanding: has a good hold on physics.
6. Music
a. The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
b. The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
7.
a. A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
b. A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
8.
a. A prison cell.
b. The state of being in confinement; custody.
9. Archaic A fortified place; a stronghold.
n.
The lower interior part of a ship or airplane where cargo is stored.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

WORD OF THE DAY

utopia

FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS

Recent Searches