Definition

1. Noun:

   • A space for storing cargo: The area within a ship or aircraft designated for storing goods.
   • A handle or grip: The part of an object designed to be held by the hand to use or move it.
   • A cell or prison: A place of confinement.
   • A stronghold or fortress: A fortified place.
   • A state of confinement or custody: The condition of being detained, often temporarily.
   • A delay or pause: A period of time during which action is suspended or awaited.
   • Influence or control: Power or dominance over someone or something.
   • Understanding or grasp: Comprehension of the nature or meaning of something.
   • The act of grasping: The physical action of seizing and holding something.

2. Verb:

   • To keep or maintain in one's grasp: To have and keep something in one's hand or control.
   • To contain or have capacity for: To be able to contain a certain amount or number.
   • To support or bear weight: To carry or sustain the weight of something.
   • To keep in a specified state or position: To maintain something in a particular condition or location.
   • To possess or own: To have something, either concretely (an object) or abstractly (a title, degree, or belief).
   • To organize or conduct: To be responsible for organizing and carrying out an event.
   • To believe or consider: To have an opinion or belief about something.
   • To remain valid or true: To continue to be applicable or correct.
   • To detain or confine: To keep someone in a place, such as in custody.
   • To reserve or book: To arrange for something to be kept available for future use.
   • To restrain or control: To keep something, such as emotions or actions, in check.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The ship's hold was filled with cargo. (The storage space in the ship was full of goods.)
  • He tightened his hold on the rope. (He strengthened his grip on the rope.)
  • The suspect was put in a hold at the police station. (The suspect was placed in a detention cell.)
  • The castle was an ancient hold. (The castle was an old fortress.)
  • The project is on hold until we get more funding. (The project is delayed until we receive more money.)
  • She has a strange hold over her followers. (She has a peculiar influence over her followers.)
  • He has a good hold of the basic principles. (He has a good understanding of the basic principles.)

• Verb:

  • Please hold this package for me. (Please keep this package in your grasp for me.)
  • This bottle holds two liters of water. (This bottle has a capacity for two liters of water.)
  • These pillars hold up the entire roof. (These pillars support the weight of the entire roof.)
  • Hold the door open, please. (Please keep the door in an open position.)
  • She holds a doctorate in physics. (She possesses a doctorate degree in physics.)
  • The university will hold a conference next month. (The university will organize a conference next month.)
  • I hold that honesty is the best policy. (I believe that honesty is the best policy.)
  • Does this rule still hold in this case? (Is this rule still valid in this situation?)
  • The police can hold him for 24 hours. (The police can detain him for 24 hours.)
  • I'd like to hold a table for four. (I would like to reserve a table for four people.)
  • He couldn't hold his laughter. (He could not restrain his laughter.)

Advanced Usage

• "hold true": To remain valid or applicable.

  • The same advice holds true for beginners. (The same advice is still valid for beginners.)

• "hold one's own": To maintain one's position or performance adequately, especially against opposition.

  • Despite the tough competition, she held her own. (Even with strong competition, she performed well.)

• "hold water": (Of an argument, theory, etc.) To be sound, logical, or convincing.

  • His explanation doesn't hold water. (His explanation is not logical or convincing.)

• "hold the line": To maintain the current situation, especially on the telephone or in a difficult circumstance.

  • Please hold the line while I transfer your call. (Please wait on the telephone while I connect you.)
  • We must hold the line against these changes. (We must resist these changes and maintain our position.)

Variants and Related Words

• Holder (n): A person or thing that holds something.

  • The ticket holder can enter now. (The person possessing the ticket can enter now.)

• Holding (n): Something that is owned, such as land, stocks, or a legal ruling.

  • He has large land holdings in the country. (He owns a lot of land in the country.)
  • The court's holding was in favor of the plaintiff. (The court's legal decision supported the plaintiff.)

• Holdall (n): A large bag for carrying clothes and other personal items.

  • He packed his clothes in a holdall. (He put his clothes in a large travel bag.)

Synonyms

• Grasp (v/n): To seize and hold firmly; understanding.
• Contain (v): To have within; hold.
• Possess (v): To have as property; own.
• Maintain (v): To keep in an existing state; preserve.
• Detain (v): To keep in custody; confine.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hold on:

  • To wait, especially on the telephone.

    • Hold on a moment, please. (Please wait a moment.)
  • To grip something firmly.

    • Hold on tight to the railing. (Grip the railing firmly.)

• Hold back:

  • To restrain or prevent from advancing.

    • The police held back the crowd. (The police prevented the crowd from moving forward.)
  • To hesitate or be reluctant.

    • Don't hold back; tell me what you think. (Don't hesitate; tell me your opinion.)

• Hold up:

  • To support or bear the weight of something.

    • These beams hold up the ceiling. (These beams support the ceiling.)
  • To delay.

    • Traffic was held up by an accident. (Traffic was delayed because of an accident.)
  • To rob using threats or violence.

    • The bank was held up yesterday. (The bank was robbed yesterday.)

• Hold out:

  • To extend or offer.

    • He held out his hand in greeting. (He extended his hand to greet someone.)
  • To endure or resist.

    • They held out against the enemy attack. (They resisted the enemy attack.)
  • To last or remain available.

    • Our supplies won't hold out much longer. (Our supplies will not last much longer.)

Related Idioms

• Hold your horses: Used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully, or to be patient.

  • Hold your horses! Let's think about this first. (Wait! Let's think about this first.)

• Hold your tongue: To refrain from speaking.

  • I wanted to argue, but I held my tongue. (I wanted to argue, but I kept silent.)

• Hold the fort: To take care of a place or situation while someone is absent.

  • Can you hold the fort while I'm at the meeting? (Can you take care of things here while I am at the meeting?)

• Get hold of:

  • To obtain or acquire something.

    • I need to get hold of a copy of that report. (I need to obtain a copy of that report.)
  • To contact or reach someone.

    • I finally got hold of her on the phone. (I finally managed to contact her by telephone.)

Noun

1. the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
2. the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
   • he grabbed the hammer by the handle
   • it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip
3. a cell in a jail or prison
4. a stronghold
5. a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
   • his detention was politically motivated
   • the prisoner is on hold
   • he is in the custody of police
6. time during which some action is awaited
   • instant replay caused too long a delay
   • he ordered a hold in the action
7. power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
   • he has a hold over them
8. understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
   • he has a good grasp of accounting practices
9. the act of grasping
   • he released his clasp on my arm
   • he has a strong grip for an old man
   • she kept a firm hold on the railing

Verb

1. keep from exhaling or expelling
   • hold your breath
2. be in accord; be in agreement
   • We agreed on the terms of the settlement
   • I can't agree with you!
   • I hold with those who say life is sacred
   • Both philosophers concord on this point
3. declare to be
   • She was declared incompetent
   • judge held that the defendant was innocent
4. aim, point, or direct
   • Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames
5. drink alcohol without showing ill effects
   • He can hold his liquor
   • he had drunk more than he could carry
6. cover as for protection against noise or smell
   • She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate
   • hold one's nose
7. cause to stop
   • Halt the engines
   • Arrest the progress
   • halt the presses
8. take and maintain control over, often by violent means
   • The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week
9. keep from departing
   • Hold the taxi
   • Hold the horse
10. lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
    • moderate your alcohol intake
    • hold your tongue
    • hold your temper
    • control your anger
11. stop dealing with
    • hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting
12. be pertinent or relevant or applicable
    • The same laws apply to you!
    • This theory holds for all irrational numbers
    • The same rules go for everyone
13. resist or confront with resistance
    • The politician defied public opinion
    • The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
    • The bridge held
14. remain committed to
    • I hold to these ideas
15. hold the attention of
    • The soprano held the audience
    • This story held our interest
    • She can hold an audience spellbound
16. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
    • He's held by a contract
    • I'll hold you by your promise
17. protect against a challenge or attack
    • Hold that position behind the trees!
    • Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
18. arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
    • reserve me a seat on a flight
    • The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
    • please hold a table at Maxim's
19. be capable of holding or containing
    • This box won't take all the items
    • The flask holds one gallon
20. have as a major characteristic
    • The novel holds many surprises
    • The book holds in store much valuable advise
21. assert or affirm
    • Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good
22. be valid, applicable, or true
    • This theory still holds
23. support or hold in a certain manner
    • She holds her head high
    • He carried himself upright
24. remain in a certain state, position, or condition
    • The weather held
    • They held on the road and kept marching
25. have room for; hold without crowding
    • This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
    • The theater admits 300 people
    • The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people
26. contain or hold; have within
    • The jar carries wine
    • The canteen holds fresh water
    • This can contains water
27. be the physical support of; carry the weight of
    • The beam holds up the roof
    • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
    • What's holding that mirror?
28. have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
    • She bears the title of Duchess
    • He held the governorship for almost a decade
29. secure and keep for possible future use or application
    • The landlord retained the security deposit
    • I reserve the right to disagree
30. to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
    • This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
    • About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade
    • The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center
    • The terrorists held the journalists for ransom
31. maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
    • bear a grudge
    • entertain interesting notions
    • harbor a resentment
32. keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
    • take for granted
    • view as important
    • hold these truths to be self-evident
    • I hold him personally responsible
33. have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
    • She has $1,000 in the bank
    • He has got two beautiful daughters
    • She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
34. organize or be responsible for
    • hold a reception
    • have, throw, or make a party
    • give a course
35. have or hold in one's hands or grip
    • Hold this bowl for a moment, please
    • A crazy idea took hold of him
36. keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
    • hold in place
    • She always held herself as a lady
    • The students keep me on my toes