holding

[ hohl-ding ]

/ ˈhoʊl dɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR holding ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that holds.

a section of land leased or otherwise tenanted, especially for agricultural purposes.

a company owned by a holding company.

Often holdings. legally owned property, especially stocks, bonds, or real estate.

holdings, Library Science. the entire collection of books, periodicals, and other materials in a library.

Sports. the illegal obstruction of an opponent, as in football, basketball, or ice hockey, by use of the hands, arms, or stick.

Nearby words

holddown, holden, holder, holder in due course, holdfast, holding, holding company, holding furnace, holding operation, holding paddock, holding pattern

Origin of holding

First recorded in 1175–1225, holding is from the Middle English word holding. See hold¹, -ing¹

Related formspre·hold·ing, noun

Definition for holding (2 of 2)

hold

[ hohld ]

/ hoʊld /

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.

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)

SYNONYMS FOR hold

8 possess, own.

11 embrace, espouse, have.

12 deem, esteem, judge.

19 persist, last, endure.

20 stick.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hold ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formshold·a·ble, adjective

Synonym study

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

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

Examples from the Web for holding

When we had that meeting in the Caribbean, Jeffrey was holding his own and not only was he a pleasant host, he was pleasant guy.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He is holding on to life with the hope that he will again be allowed to see his son.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike|IranWire|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The announcement comes as pro-Warren activists are holding their first major event in the Hawkeye State on Wednesday night.
Elizabeth Warren 2016 Gets First Check From Liberals|Ben Jacobs|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Currently, Israel is holding around 470 Palestinians without charge or access to legal counsel.
The Strange Case of the Christian Zionist Terrorist|Creede Newton|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In Aug. 2003, Muller said he believed Cobalt was merely a holding facility.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon|Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And Dick turned again and hurried to the new house, but David stood, holding the handle of his cart and looking after him.
The Doers|William John Hopkins
As general or First Consul, he never wore gloves, contenting himself with holding and crumpling them in his left hand.
The Companions of Jehu|Alexandre Dumas, pre
We may now attach other straying symbols as holding them in mind.
Cupology|Clara
Holding his steed with a firm grip, he raised his right hand to the shouting besiegers, signifying that he wished to speak.
Legends of the Rhine|Wilhelm Ruland
The Gaucho, now holding fast the bridle fixed to the lower jaw, leads the horse outside the corral.
A Naturalist's Voyage Round the World|Charles Darwin

British Dictionary definitions for holding (1 of 3)

holding

/ (ˈhəʊldɪŋ) /

noun

land held under a lease and used for agriculture or similar purposes

(often plural) property to which the holder has legal title, such as land, stocks, shares, and other investments

sport the obstruction of an opponent with the hands or arms, esp in boxing

adjective

Australian informal in funds; having money

British Dictionary definitions for holding (2 of 3)

hold

/ (həʊld) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for holding (3 of 3)

hold

/ (həʊld) /

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 holding (1 of 4)

holding

early 13c., verbal noun of hold. As a football (soccer) penalty, from 1866. Meaning "property held," especially stock shares, is from 1570s.

Word Origin and History for holding (1 of 4)

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.

Word Origin and History for holding (2 of 4)

hold

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."

Word Origin and History for holding (3 of 4)

hold

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 holding

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

holding

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of holding

Definition for holding (2 of 2)

hold

verb (used with object), held; held or (Archaic) hold·en; hold·ing.

verb (used without object), held; held or (Archaic) hold·en; hold·ing.