hold

[hohld]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hold ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

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)

Related formshold·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms for hold

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hold ON THESAURUS.COM

8. possess, own. 11. embrace, espouse, have. 12. deem, esteem, judge. 19. persist, last, endure. 20. stick.

Synonym study

8. See have. 9. See contain. 11. See maintain.

hold

[hohld]

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

1585–95; variant of hole; cognate with Dutch hol hole, hold

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for hold

grip, influence, dominance, enjoy, own, seize, keep, arrest, maintain, take, have, imprison, carry, detain, occupy, buy, remain, operate, last, stay

Examples from the Web for hold

Contemporary Examples of hold

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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of hold

If you can't skin yourself you can hold a leg while somebody else skins.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
You know what you hold, and if 'tain't a hand to lay down, it must be a hand to raise on.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
When the Kings were weak the nobles often managed to get hold of the State.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
They were good fighters and for a long time they were able to hold their own against all invaders.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
I have known Harriet for many years, and I hold her in my high esteem.
Harriet, The Moses of Her People
Sarah H. Bradford

British Dictionary definitions for hold

hold

verb holds, holding or held (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) music to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified durationto hold on a semibreve for its full value

(tr) computing to 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 for or hold good for to apply or be relevant tothe same rules hold for everyone

holding thumbs Southern African holding 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 high to conduct oneself in a proud and confident manner

hold one's own to maintain one's situation or position esp in spite of opposition or difficulty

hold one's peace or hold one's tongue to keep silent

hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent

there is no holding him he 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

wrestling a way of seizing one's opponenta wrist hold

music a pause or fermata

a tenure or holding, esp of land
(in combination)leasehold; freehold; copyhold

a container

archaic a fortified place

get hold of

to obtain
to come into contact with

no holds barred all limitations removed

on hold in a state of temporary postponement or delay

Derived Formsholdable, adjective

Word Origin for hold

Old English healdan; related to Old Norse halla, Gothic haldan, German halten

hold

noun

the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

Word Origin for hold

C16: variant of hole

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hold

Old English haldan (Anglian), healdan (West Saxon), "to contain, grasp; retain; foster, cherish," class VII strong verb (past tense heold, past participle healden), from Proto-Germanic *haldanan (cf. Old Saxon haldan, Old Frisian halda, Old Norse halda, Dutch houden, German halten "to hold," Gothic haldan "to tend"), originally "to keep, tend, watch over" (as cattle), later "to have." Ancestral sense is preserved in behold. The original past participle holden was replaced by held beginning 16c., but survives in some legal jargon and in beholden.

Hold back is 1530s, transitive; 1570s, intransitive; hold off is early 15c., transitive; c.1600, intransitive; hold out is 1520s as "to stretch forth," 1580s as "to resist pressure." Hold on is early 13c. as "to maintain one’s course," 1830 as "to keep one’s grip on something," 1846 as an order to wait or stop. To hold (one's) tongue "be silent" is from c.1300. To hold (one's) own is from early 14c. To hold (someone's) hand "give moral support" is from 1935. Phrase hold your horses "be patient" is from 1844. To have and to hold have been paired alliteratively since at least c.1200, originally of marriage but also of real estate.

n.2

"space in a ship below the lower deck, in which cargo is stowed," 15c. corruption in the direction of hold (v.) of Old English hol "hole" (see hole), influenced by Middle Dutch hol "hold of a ship," and Middle English hul, which originally meant both "the hold" and "the hull" of a ship (see hull). Or possibly from Old English holu "husk, pod." All from PIE *kel- "to cover, conceal."

n.1

"act of holding," c.1100; "grasp, grip," c.1200, from Old English geheald (Anglian gehald) "keeping, custody, guard; watch, protector, guardian," from hold (v.). Meaning "place of refuge" is from c.1200; "fortified place" is from c.1300; "place of imprisonment" is from late 14c. Wrestling sense is from 1713. No holds barred "with all restrictions removed" is first recorded 1942 in theater jargon but is ultimately from wrestling. Telephoning sense is from c.1964, from expression hold the line, warning that one is away from the receiver, 1912.

Idioms and Phrases with hold

hold

In addition to the idioms beginning with hold

hold a candle to, not
hold against
hold a grudge
hold a gun to someone's head
hold all the aces
hold at bay
hold back
hold court
hold down
hold everything
hold forth
hold good
hold it
hold no brief for
hold off
hold on
hold one's breath
hold one's end up
hold one's fire
hold one's head high
hold one's horses
hold one's own
hold one's peace
hold one's temper
hold one's tongue
hold on to
hold on to your hat
hold out
hold out on
hold over
hold someone's feet to the fire
hold still for
hold sway over
hold the bag
hold the fort
hold the line
hold the phone
hold the purse strings
hold to
hold true
hold up
hold water
hold with
hold your

also see:

(hold) at bay
bear (hold) a grudge
get hold of
hang (hold) on to your hat
have a hold over
lay hold of
leave holding the bag
no holds barred
on hold
(hold the) purse strings
stand (hold) one's ground
take hold