behold

American  

[bih-hohld] / bɪˈhoʊld /

verb (used with object)

beheld, beholding

1. to observe; look at; see.

   Synonyms:

   discern, watch, view, regard

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interjection

1. look; see.

   And, behold, three sentries of the King did appear.

behold British  

/ bɪˈhəʊld /

verb

1. to look (at); observe

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Other Word Forms

• beholdable adjective
• beholder noun
• unbeholdable adjective

Etymology

Origin of behold

First recorded before 900; Middle English beholden, Old English behaldan “to keep”; be-, hold ¹

Example Sentences

He tells me, I try that, it works for me, and lo and behold when the race comes, I might beat him.

From BBC

The stark visual panache of the production, however, is an impressive sight to behold.

From Los Angeles Times

Every gesture, word and expression is a marvel to behold, made all the more stunning by the fact that Seyfried essentially plays three different personality types throughout the film.

From Salon

But Dijon’s creativity was the most exciting to behold as heard on Bieber’s “Swag” and his own album “Baby.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Lo and behold, it stripped synapses off neurons," Shatz said -- quite a surprise for a molecule researchers had previously thought had no function at all.

From Science Daily