hold
hohld
Hold (verb) means to grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms. Example: “She held the baby close as she walked down the stairs.”
verb
1
To grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.
"She held the baby close as she walked down the stairs."
"Can you hold this bag while I find my keys?"
"Hold the handrail tightly when the bus starts moving."
2
To keep something in a particular state, position, or place, such as reserving it or making someone wait.
"Please hold my seat while I get some popcorn."
"The airline held the flight for ten minutes to let latecomers board."
"Could you hold the lift for me, please?"
3
To remain true, valid, or in effect.
"That rule still holds, even in the new system."
"The same rule holds for every student in the school."
"Does this advice still hold if the weather turns bad?"
noun
1
A grip or grasp on something.
"He kept a firm hold on the rope as he climbed."
"She lost her hold on the branch and slipped."
"Climbers need a good hold for their hands and feet."
2
The cargo storage area below a ship's deck.
"The crates were stacked deep in the ship's hold."
"Dockworkers lowered the last barrels into the hold before the ship sailed."
"Water leaked into the hold during the storm, so the crew started pumping."
How to use hold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo grip, keep, or maintain something — physically, in time, or in effect.
Common mistake
Note the many fixed phrases — "hold on" (wait), "hold up" (delay or challenge), "get hold of" (contact or obtain) — each carries a different meaning from plain "hold."
Common pairings
hold on
hold a grudge
on hold
hold your breath
take hold
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Word forms
- Plural
- holds
- Third person singular
- holds
- Past tense
- held, holden
- Comparative
- more hold
- Superlative
- most hold
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ this bag while I find my keys?
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."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hold
See all rhymes for 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.
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