hold 1
Audio Help (hōld) Pronunciation Key
held (hěld), hold·ing , holds
tr.
To have and keep in one's grasp: held the reins tightly.
To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire.
To keep from falling or moving; support: a nail too small to hold the mirror; hold the horse steady; papers that were held together with staples.
To sustain the pressure of: The old bridge can't hold much weight.
To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash.
To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning.
To retain (one's attention or interest): Televised sports can't hold my interest.
To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer held her breath while underwater.
To be filled by; contain.
To be capable of holding. See Synonyms at contain .
To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds many surprises.
To have in store: Let's see what the future holds.
To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash.
To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning.
To retain (one's attention or interest): Televised sports can't hold my interest.
To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer held her breath while underwater.
To be filled by; contain.
To be capable of holding. See Synonyms at contain .
To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds many surprises.
To have in store: Let's see what the future holds.
To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To be filled by; contain.
To be capable of holding. See Synonyms at contain .
To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds many surprises.
To have in store: Let's see what the future holds.
To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property.
To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years.
To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers.
To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To maintain control over: Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom.
To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Protesters held the embassy for a week.
To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example).
To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper.
To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses!
To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Hold the relish on that hamburger.
To defer the immediate handling of: The receptionist held all calls during the meeting.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To be the legal possessor of.
To bind by a contract.
To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault.
To make accountable; obligate: He held me to my promise.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices.
To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good.
To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Texas; hold a yard sale.
To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg.
To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench.
intr.
To maintain a grasp or grip on something.
To stay securely fastened: The chain held.
To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold.
To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held. We held firm on the negotiations.
To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold.
To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held. We held firm on the negotiations.
To continue in the same direction: The ship held to an easterly course.
To be valid, applicable, or true: The observation still holds in cases like this.
To have legal right or title. Often used with of or from.
To halt an intended action. Often used in the imperative.
To stop the countdown during a missile or spacecraft launch.
Slang To have in one's possession illicit or illegally obtained material or goods, especially narcotics: The suspect was holding. The act or a means of grasping.
A manner of grasping an opponent, as in wrestling or aikido: a neck hold; an arm hold.
A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on her readership.
Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues.
Full understanding: has a good hold on physics.
The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
Something that may be grasped or gripped, as for support.
A control or adjustor on a television that keeps the screen image in proper position: adjusted the horizontal hold.
A telephone service that allows one to temporarily interrupt a call without severing the connection.
A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on her readership.
Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues.
Full understanding: has a good hold on physics.
The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
Music The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value.
The symbol designating this pause; a fermata.
A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
A direction or indication that something is to be reserved or deferred.
A temporary halt, as in a countdown.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
A prison cell.
The state of being in confinement; custody.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
Archaic A fortified place; a stronghold.To retain in one's possession or control: held back valuable information; held back my tears.
To impede the progress of.
To restrain oneself.
To limit: Please hold the noise down.
To fulfill the duties of (a job): holds down two jobs.
To keep at a distance; resist: held the creditors off.
To stop or delay doing something: Let's hold off until we have more data.
To maintain one's grip; cling.
To continue to do something; persist.
To wait for something wanted or requested, especially to keep a telephone connection open.
To present or proffer as something attainable.
To continue to be in supply or service; last: Our food is holding out nicely.
To continue to resist: The defending garrison held out for a month.
To refuse to reach or satisfy an agreement.
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
To continue a term of office past the usual length of time.
To prolong the engagement of: The film was held over for weeks.
To obstruct or delay.
To rob while armed, often at gunpoint.
To offer or present as an example: held the essay up as a model for the students.
To continue to function without losing force or effectiveness; cope: managed to hold up under the stress.
Phrasal Verb(s): hold back
To retain in one's possession or control: held back valuable information; held back my tears.
To impede the progress of.
To restrain oneself.
hold down
To limit: Please hold the noise down.
To fulfill the duties of (a job): holds down two jobs.
hold forth
hold off
To keep at a distance; resist: held the creditors off.
To stop or delay doing something: Let's hold off until we have more data.
hold on
To maintain one's grip; cling.
To continue to do something; persist.
To wait for something wanted or requested, especially to keep a telephone connection open.
hold out
To present or proffer as something attainable.
To continue to be in supply or service; last: Our food is holding out nicely.
To continue to resist: The defending garrison held out for a month.
To refuse to reach or satisfy an agreement.
hold over
To postpone or delay.
To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time.
To continue a term of office past the usual length of time.
To prolong the engagement of: The film was held over for weeks.
hold to
She held to her resolutions.
hold up
To obstruct or delay.
To rob while armed, often at gunpoint.
To offer or present as an example: held the essay up as a model for the students.
To continue to function without losing force or effectiveness; cope: managed to hold up under the stress.
hold with
I don't hold with your theories.
Idiom(s): To come into possession of; find: Where can I get hold of a copy?
To communicate with, as by telephone: tried to get hold of you but the line was busy.
To gain control of. Often used reflexively: You must get hold of yourself!
Idiom(s): This film doesn't hold a candle to his previous ones.
Idiom(s): Idiom(s): Idiom(s): Don't hold out on me; start telling the truth.
Idiom(s): Idiom(s): Idiom(s): To be left with empty hands.
To be forced to assume total responsibility when it ought to have been shared.
Idiom(s): To assume responsibility, especially in another's absence.
To maintain a secure position.
Idiom(s): had to hold the line on salary increases.
Idiom(s): Hold the phone! Let's end this argument.
Idiom(s): Your explanation doesn't hold water.
Idiom(s): Idiom(s): Into a state of temporary interruption without severing a telephone connection: put me on hold for 10 minutes.
Informal Into a state of delay or indeterminate suspension: had to put the romance on hold. holden , from Old English healdan .]
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Audio Help [hohld] Pronunciation Key verb, held; held or (Archaic
