Hold Definition & Meaning
hold
- noun
- 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"
- understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"
- power by which something or someone is affected or dominated; "he has a hold over them"
- time during which some action is awaited; "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
- 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"
- a stronghold
- a cell in a jail or prison
- 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"
- the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
- verb
- 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"
- have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him"
- organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course"
- 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"
- 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"
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"
- 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"
- secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
- have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade"
- 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?"
- contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water"
- 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"
- remain in a certain state, position, or condition; "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching"
- support or hold in a certain manner; "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright"
- be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds"
- assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good"
- have as a major characteristic; "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise"
- be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon"
- 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"
- protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"
- bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He's held by a contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise"
- hold the attention of; "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound"
- remain committed to; "I hold to these ideas"
- resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"
- 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"
- stop dealing with; "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting"
- 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"
- keep from departing; "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse"
- take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week"
- cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
- cover as for protection against noise or smell; "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one's nose"
- drink alcohol without showing ill effects; "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry"
- aim, point, or direct; "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"
- declare to be; "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent"
- 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"
- keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"
"Hold" in song lyrics
See how hold is used in real songs:
-
"before I let my boy Moe put you in a choke hold"
2Phace f/ Big Moe — P Potion -
"Ears hang trunk, in a slave hold"
3rd Bass — Brooklyn-Queens -
"But yo, in the '80s, this world is out of hold"
The 7A3 — Lucifer
Words that rhyme with hold
Usage tips for "hold"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "hold" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for hold to find words that pair well.