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1. Dictionary

   hold

   /həʊld/

   verb

   • 1. grasp, carry, or support with one's hands: "she was holding a brown leather suitcase" Similar clasphold on toclutchgraspgripclenchcling tohave in one's handcarrybearliterary:cleave toOpposite releaselet go of
   • ▪ keep or sustain in a specified position: "I held the door open for him"
   • ▪ embrace (someone): "Mark pulled her into his arms and held her close" Similar embracehugclaspcradlefoldenfoldenvelopsqueezehold tighthold in one's armsliterary:embosom
   • ▪ be able to bear (the weight of a person or thing): "I reached up to the nearest branch which seemed likely to hold my weight" Similar supportbearcarrytakehold upkeep upsustainprop upbolster upshore upbuttressbrace
   • ▪ (of a vehicle) maintain close contact with (the road), especially when driven at speed: "the car holds the corners very well"
   • ▪ (of a ship or an aircraft) continue to follow (a particular course): "the ship is holding a south-easterly course"
   • ▪ keep going in a particular direction: archaic "he held on his way, close behind his friend"
   • 2. keep or detain (someone): "the police were holding him on a murder charge" Similar detainhold in custodyimprisonlock upshut upput behind barsput in prisonput in jailincarceratekeep under lock and keyconfineimpoundimmureinternconstrainkeep under constraintinformal:put awayput insideOpposite let go
   • ▪ keep possession of (something), typically in the face of a challenge or attack: "the rebels held the town for many weeks"
   • ▪ keep (someone's interest or attention). Similar maintainkeepkeep upkeep aliveoccupyengrossabsorbinterestcaptivatefascinateenthralrivetmonopolizeengagecatchcapturegriparrestOpposite lose
   • ▪ (of a singer or musician) sustain (a note).
   • ▪ stay or cause to stay at a certain value or level: "MCI shares held at 77p"
   • ▪ (in sport) manage to achieve a draw against (opponents thought likely to win): "AC Milan were held to a 1–1 draw by Udinese"
   • 3. remain secure, intact, or in position without breaking or giving way: "the boat's anchor would not hold"
   • ▪ (of a favourable condition or situation) continue without changing: "let's hope her luck holds" Similar continuecarry ongo onhold onhold outkeep upkeep goinglastpersistendurestayremainremain unchangedOpposite end
   • ▪ be or remain valid or available: "I'll have that coffee now, if the offer still holds" Similar remain availableremain validremain in forcehold goodstandapplyremainexistoperateobtainbe the casebe in forcebe in operationbe in effectOpposite be no longer valid
   • ▪ (of an argument or theory) be logical, consistent, or convincing: "this basic argument holds for almost any economic model of competition"
   • 4. contain or be capable of containing (a specified amount): "the tank held twenty-four gallons" Similar have a capacity oftakehave room forhave space forcontaincompriseaccommodatefitseathave seats for
   • ▪ be able to drink (a reasonable amount of alcohol) without becoming drunk or suffering any ill effects: "I can hold my drink as well as anyone"
   • ▪ have or be characterized by: "I don't know what the future holds"
   • 5. have in one's possession: "the managing director still holds fifty shares in the company" Similar possesshaveownbearcarrybe the owner ofhave in one's possessionbe in possession ofhave to one's name
   • ▪ be in possession of illegal drugs: informal North American "he was holding, and the police hauled him off to jail"
   • ▪ have or occupy (a job or position): "she held office from 1985 to 90" Similar occupyhavebe infillinformal:hold down
   • ▪ have (a belief or opinion): "I feel nothing but pity for someone who holds such chauvinistic views" Similar believethinkconsidertake the viewfeelmaintainsweardeembe of the opinionsubscribe to the opinionadjudgejudgeruledecidefigureinformal:reckonformal:esteemopine
   • ▪ regard (someone or something) in a specified way: "you can't hold yourself responsible for what happened"
   • ▪ (of a judge or court) rule; decide: "the Court of Appeal held that there was no evidence to support the judge's assessment"
   • 6. keep or reserve for someone: "a booking can be held for twenty-four hours"
   • ▪ maintain (a phone connection) until the person one has called is free to speak: "please hold the line, and I'll see if he's available"
   • 7. prevent from going ahead or occurring: "hold your fire!"
   • ▪ refrain from adding or using (something, typically an item of food or drink): informal North American "a strawberry margarita, but hold the tequila"
   • ▪ wait or stop doing something: informal "hold it right there, mate!"
   • ▪ restrain oneself: archaic "‘Hold, hold!’ he cried"
   • 8. arrange and take part in (a meeting or conversation): "a meeting was held at the church" Similar convenecallassemblesummonconducthaveorganizerunpreside overofficiate atformal:convokeOpposite disband

   noun

   • 1. an act or manner of grasping something; a grip: "he caught hold of her arm" Similar gripgraspclaspclutchpurchasefootholdfootingtoehold
   • ▪ a particular way of grasping or restraining someone, especially an opponent in wrestling or judo.
   • ▪ a place where one can grip with one's hands or feet while climbing: "he felt carefully with his feet for a hold and swung himself up"
   • 2. power or control: "Tom had some kind of hold over his father" Similar influencepowercontroldominancepullswaymasteryauthorityleverageinformal:cloutcontrolgrippowerstrangleholddominionauthorityascendancy
   • 3. a fortress. archaic

   Word Origin Old Englishhaldan, healdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch houden and German halten; the noun is partly from Old Norse hald ‘hold, support, custody’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. holdable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • H

     4

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • D

     2

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   HOLD definition: 1. to take and keep something in your hand or arms: 2. to support something: 3. When two people…. Learn more.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryHOLD | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   HOLD meaning: 1. to take and keep something in your hand or arms: 2. to support something: 3. When two people…. Learn more.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD ON | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   HOLD ON definition: 1. to make yourself continue to do what you are doing or stay where you are although it is…. Learn more.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD UP | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   HOLD UP definition: 1. to remain strong or successful: 2. to delay someone or something: 3. to steal from someone…. Learn more.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishGET HOLD OF | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   GET HOLD OF definition: 1. to find someone or obtain something: 2. to understand something: 3. to find someone or obtain…. Learn more.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurusHOLD TO - 34 Synonyms and Antonyms - Cambridge English

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurus

   • Cached

   Jun 12, 2024 · These are words and phrases related to hold to. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD SOMETHING OVER | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   HOLD SOMETHING OVER definition: 1. to delay something: 2. If a film, play, etc. is held over, it is shown or performed more times…. Learn more.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHELD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   HELD definition: 1. past simple and past participle of hold 2. kept or maintained: 3. past simple and past…. Learn more.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD BACK | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

    • Cached

    HOLD BACK definition: 1. to not do something, often because of fear or because you do not want to make a bad situation…. Learn more.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishHOLD/STAND FAST | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

    • Cached

    HOLD/STAND FAST definition: 1. to firmly remain in the same position or keep the same opinion: 2. to firmly remain in the same…. Learn more.