hold
verb (used with object)
to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp.
were holding
-
past progressiveof hold.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Nepali families were holding symbolic funeral ceremonies to "liberate the souls" of loved ones missing since deadly flash floods swept away their villages and homes in the Himalayan region a week ago.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
The positions that were falling and those that were holding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
It is possible that Fifa could issue bans to the players who were holding it: Tottenham's Cristian Romero, former Spurs player Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The first few they saw were holding mufflers.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
It was nearly four in the morning, and the deathly stillness of the grounds felt as though they were holding their breath, waiting to see whether he could do what he must.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
