hold
25 synonyms and 1 antonyms for hold, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hold
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English healdan, meaning "to tend, herd, or keep," ultimately from a very old root meaning "to drive" — related to the word "halt."
Full origin of hold →Frequently asked questions
What does “hold” mean?
The word “hold” means to grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms. In plain terms, to grip, keep, or maintain something — physically, in time, or in effect.
How do you pronounce “hold”?
“Hold” is pronounced hohld (/hoʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “hold” in a sentence?
Here is “hold” used in a sentence: “Can you hold this bag while I find my keys?”
What is the opposite of “hold”?
The opposite of “hold” — its antonyms — is release.
What part of speech is “hold”?
Depending on how it is used, “hold” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hold” come from?
The word “hold” comes from Old English. From Old English healdan, meaning "to tend, herd, or keep," ultimately from a very old root meaning "to drive" — related to the word "halt.".
Is “hold” a common word?
“Hold” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hold” have?
“Hold” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.
What is the difference between "hold" and "carry"?
To hold something is to grasp or support it, keeping it in place with your hands or arms. To carry it is to hold it while moving it from one place to another. You can hold a cup at the table, but you carry it across the room. Carrying adds movement.
What are the different meanings of "hold"?
Beyond grasping something, "hold" can mean to contain ("the jug holds a litre"), to keep or reserve ("hold my seat"), to host ("hold a meeting"), to pause ("hold on"), or to stay true ("the rule still holds"). All share the idea of keeping or supporting.
What is the past tense of "hold"?
The past tense and past participle are both "held." So you say "she holds the baby" in the present, "she held the baby" in the past, and "she has held the baby" for the perfect form. "Hold" is an irregular verb, so it does not simply add "-ed."
What is an example of "hold"?
You hold a pen when you write, hold a child's hand when crossing the road, and hold a railing for balance. In each case you are grasping or supporting something with your hands or arms — the core physical meaning of the word.