hold over
Britishverb
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to defer consideration of or action on
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to postpone for a further period
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to prolong (a note, chord, etc) from one bar to the next
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(preposition) to intimidate (a person) with (a threat)
noun
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an elected official who continues in office after his term has expired
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a performer or performance continuing beyond the original engagement
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Postpone or delay, as in Let's hold this matter over until the next meeting . [Mid-1800s]
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Keep something in a position or state beyond the normal period, as in The film was to be held over for another week . [First half of 1900s]
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Continue in office past the normal period, as in The committee chair held over until they could find a suitable replacement . [Mid-1600s]
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hold something over someone . Have an advantage or use a threat to control someone. For example, They knew he'd been caught shoplifting and were sure to hold it over him . [Second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A Compass spokesperson also told MarketWatch that the company is not hiding listings, but it is opposed to Zillow’s hold over the real-estate market.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Enterprises have long sought to keep their proprietary business data away from tech vendors, aiming to keep a strict hold over what they consider their most important assets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
The cooling appears to have taken hold over just a few decades.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The direct listing may reduce the appeal of South Korean ETFs, which hold over 50% of assets in SK Hynix and Samsung.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
Like all too many dictators, Cahokia’s rulers focused on maintaining their hold over the people, paying little attention to external reality.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
