held
ˈheld 
; holding
; holding
1
a
: to have possession or ownership of or have at one's disposal
holds property worth millions
the bank holds the title to the car
b
: to have as a privilege or position of responsibility
hold a professorship
c
: to have as a mark of distinction
holds the record for the 100-yard dash
holds a PhD
2
: to keep under restraint
hold price increases to a minimum
: such as
a
: to prevent free expression of
hold your temper
b
: to prevent from some action
ordered the troops to hold fire
the only restraining motive which may hold the hand of a tyrant—
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
c
: to keep back from use
ask them to hold a room for us
I'll have a hot dog, and hold the mustard
d
: to delay temporarily the handling of
please hold all my calls
3
: to make liable or accountable or bound to an obligation
I'll hold you to your promise
4
b
: to support in a particular position or keep from falling or moving
hold me up so I can see
hold the ladder steady
a clamp holds the whole thing together
hold your head up
c
: to bear the pressure of : support
can the roof hold all of that weight
5
: to prevent from leaving or getting away
hold the train
: such as
a
: to avoid emitting or letting out
how long can you hold your breath
b
: to restrain as or as if a captive
the suspect was held without bail
held them at gunpoint
also
: to have strong appeal to
the book held my interest throughout
6
a
: to enclose and keep in a container or within bounds : contain
the jug holds one gallon
this corral will not hold all of the horses
b
: to be able to consume easily or without undue effect
can't hold any more pie
especially
: to be able to drink (alcoholic beverages) without becoming noticeably drunk
can't hold your liquor
c
: accommodate
the restaurant holds 400 diners
d
: to have as a principal or essential feature or attribute
the book holds a number of surprises
also
: to have in store
no one knows what the future holds
7
a
: to have in the mind or express as a judgment, opinion, or belief
I hold the view that this is wrong
hold a grudge
holding that it is nobody's business but his—Jack Olsen
—often used with againstJack Olsenin America they hold everything you say against you—Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
b
: to think of in a particular way : regard
were held in high esteem
8
a
: to assemble for and carry on the activity of
held a convention
b
: to cause to be carried on : conduct
will hold a seminar
c
: to produce or sponsor especially as a public exhibition
will hold an art show
9
a
: to maintain occupation, control, or defense of
the troops held the ridge
also
: to resist the offensive efforts or advance of
held the opposing team to just two points
b
: to maintain (a certain condition, situation, or course of action) without change
hold a course due east
10
: to cover (a part of the body) with one or both hands (as for protection or comfort)
held his knee after the fall
especially
: to cover (the ears) to prevent hearing
held her ears when the train went by
1
a
: to maintain position : refuse to give ground
the defensive line is holding
b
: to continue in the same way or to the same degree : last entry 1
hopes the weather will hold
—often used with up
2
: to derive right or title
—often used with of or from
lands held of the Crown
3
: to be or remain valid : apply
the rule holds in most cases
—often used in the phrase hold true
4
: to maintain a grasp on something : remain fastened to something
the anchor held in the rough sea
5
: to go ahead as one has been going
held south for several miles
6
: to bear or carry oneself
asked him to hold still
8
: to stop counting during a countdown
9
slang
: to have illicit drug material in one's possession
2
a
b
: prison
3
a(1)
: the act or the manner of grasping something (as in the hands or arms) : grip
released his hold on the handle
took hold of the rope
(2)
: a manner of grasping an opponent in wrestling
applied an illegal hold
b
: a nonphysical bond that attaches, restrains, or constrains or by which something is affected, controlled, or dominated
trying to tighten her hold on the company's finances
has lost its hold on the broad public—Oscar Cargill
Oscar Cargill
c
: full comprehension
get hold of exactly what is happening—J. P. Lyford
J. P. Lyford
d
: full or immediate control : possession
get hold of yourself
wants to get hold of a road map
e
: touch sense 8
—used with of
tried to get hold of you, but you never answered your phone
4
: something that may be grasped as a support
searched for holds in the rock
5
a
music
: fermata
b
: the time between the onset and the release (see release entry 2 sense 3c) of a vocal articulation (see articulation sense 3b)
6
: a sudden motionless posture at the end of a dance
7
a
: an order or indication that something is to be reserved or delayed
I asked the library to put a hold on the book for me.
b
: a delay in a countdown (as in launching a spacecraft)
see also take hold
1
: the interior of a ship below decks
especially
: the cargo deck of a ship
2
: the cargo compartment of a plane
Phrases
hold a brief for
: to qualify for comparison with
doesn't hold a candle to what she has suffered
: to be the center of attention among friends or admirers
: to speak at length : expatiate
holding forth on the subject of politics
: to engage one's hand with another's especially as an expression of affection
1
: to prevent oneself from breathing temporarily
2
: to wait in anxious anticipation
: to slow down or stop for a moment
—usually used in the imperative
: to maintain one's position : prove equal to opposition
prove I can hold my own with the best of them
: to keep silent : keep one's thoughts to oneself
: to have a dominant influence : rule
1
: to be left empty-handed
2
: to bear alone a responsibility that should have been shared by others
She was left holding the bag for their mistakes.
1
: to maintain a firm position
2
: to take care of usual affairs
is holding the fort until the manager returns
: to maintain the current position or situation
hold the line on prices
: to give firm assent to : adhere to strongly
holds to his promise
: to hold responsible
: to stand up under criticism or analysis
Their version of events doesn't hold water.
: to agree with or approve of
don't hold with violence
1
: in a state of interruption during a telephone call when one party switches to another line without totally disconnecting the other party
put me on hold while he talked to his supervisor
2
: in a state or period of indefinite suspension
put our plans on hold
Synonyms
Examples of hold in a Sentence
Verb
Hold the rail so you won't fall.
He was holding a large package in his arms.
Would you hold this for me?
She showed him the correct way to hold the racket.
Some people just don't like to be held.
He held her close and kissed her.
He held the pen in his mouth while he dialed the number.
Hold the pen upright when you write.
She picked up the trophy and held it over her head.
You have to hold the button down for several seconds.
Noun (1)
make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
the government has no hold over where we live and work
I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency
upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life
I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action
a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location
Recent Examples on the Web
Nate Chute, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Real estate agents are holding about 20 open houses at historic homes in about a dozen Phoenix historic neighborhoods this weekend.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
John Towfighi, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
His return to the presidency is likely to result in his four criminal cases being dismissed or placed on hold for at least four years.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
These sessions, often held bi-monthly, are held in secret.
—Nate Chute, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Real estate agents are holding about 20 open houses at historic homes in about a dozen Phoenix historic neighborhoods this weekend.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
That lawsuit was put on hold this summer until early December.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
His return to the presidency is likely to result in his four criminal cases being dismissed or placed on hold for at least four years.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold
Articles Related to hold
Dictionary Entries Near hold
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hold
1 of 3 verb
held
ˈheld
; holding
; holding
1
2
a
: to keep or restrict by force
the troops held the bridge
b
: to restrain especially by keeping back
hold your temper
c
: delay entry 2 sense 2
held the train
d
: to keep back from use
will hold the seats for us
e
: to make accept a legal or moral duty
I'll hold you to your word
3
a
: to have or keep in the grasp
hold the pen upright
b
: to cause to be or remain in a place, position, or situation
hold the ladder steady
c
: to remain fastened
the anchor held
d
: support entry 1 sense 4a, sustain
the floor will hold 10 metric tons
e
: to keep as or as if a captive
held without bail
4
: to bear or carry oneself
please hold still
5
a
: to keep up without interruption
hold silence
b
: to keep the interest or devotion of
the play held the audience
6
: to receive and contain
the bottle holds two liters
7
a
: to have in mind : entertain
hold a theory
b
: consider sense 3, judge
was held to be the best
8
: to carry on as a group
hold a meeting
9
a
: to maintain position
the line held under attack
b
: to continue unchanged : last
their interest held up
hope the weather holds
10
: to be true : apply
the rule holds in most cases
hold
2 of 3 noun1
3
: a manner of grasping the opponent in wrestling
4
a
: full or immediate control
get hold of yourself
b
: touch sense 4
trying to get a hold of you
5
: a bond that affects or controls : power
the law has no hold over this person
6
: something that may be grasped or held
7
: a note or rest in music that is continued longer than usual
hold
3 of 3 noun1
: the interior of a ship below decks
especially
: the cargo deck of a ship
2
: the cargo compartment of an airplane
Etymology
Verb
Old English healdan "to hold, own"
Noun
an altered form of hole
Legal Definition
hold
transitive verb
held; holding
1
a
: to have lawful possession or ownership of
held the property as tenants in common
the band holds the title to the car
b
: to have as a privilege or position of responsibility
holding a retail liquor license
the judges…shall hold their offices during good behavior—U.S. Constitution art. III
U.S. Constitution art. III2
: to restrain the liberty of
specifically
: to keep in custody
the defendant will be held without bail
3
: to cause to be conducted
will hold a hearing on the matter
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