When you hold something, you carry or support it using your hands or arms. The past tense and past participle of hold is held, not 'holded'.
Hold is sometimes used with the meaning 'have' or 'possess'. It is used, for example, with words like licence and passport.
It is also used with words like opinion.
Both of these uses are rather formal, and in conversation you normally use have, not 'hold'.
Imperative |
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hold |
hold |
Noun | 1. | ![]() choke hold, chokehold - a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind; "he grabbed the woman in a chokehold, demanded her cash and jewelry, and then fled" embrace, embracement, embracing - the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection) prehension, taking hold, grasping, seizing - the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles) wrestling hold - a hold used in the sport of wrestling |
2. | ![]() discernment, savvy, understanding, apprehension - the cognitive condition of someone who understands; "he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect" sense - a natural appreciation or ability; "a keen musical sense"; "a good sense of timing" | |
3. | hold - power by which something or someone is affected or dominated; "he has a hold over them" control - power to direct or determine; "under control" | |
4. | ![]() pause, suspension, intermission, interruption, break - a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something extension - a mutually agreed delay in the date set for the completion of a job or payment of a debt; "they applied for an extension of the loan" moratorium - a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged retardation - the extent to which something is delayed or held back | |
5. | ![]() confinement - the state of being confined; "he was held in confinement" | |
6. | hold - a stronghold stronghold, fastness - a strongly fortified defensive structure archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression | |
7. | hold - a cell in a jail or prison | |
8. | ![]() appendage - a part that is joined to something larger aspergill, aspersorium - a short-handled device with a globe containing a sponge; used for sprinkling holy water ax handle, axe handle - the handle of an ax baseball bat, lumber - an implement used in baseball by the batter briefcase - a case with a handle; for carrying papers or files or books broom handle, broomstick - the handle of a broom brush - an implement that has hairs or bristles firmly set into a handle carpet beater, rug beater - implement for beating dust out of carpets carrycot - box-shaped baby bed with handles (for a baby to sleep in while being carried) cheese cutter - a kitchen utensil (board or handle) with a wire for cutting cheese coffee cup - a cup from which coffee is drunk coffeepot - tall pot in which coffee is brewed cricket bat, bat - the club used in playing cricket; "a cricket bat has a narrow handle and a broad flat end for hitting" crop - the stock or handle of a whip eating utensil, cutlery - tableware implements for cutting and eating food edge tool - any cutting tool with a sharp cutting edge (as a chisel or knife or plane or gouge) handbarrow - a rectangular frame with handles at both ends; carried by two people handcart, pushcart, cart, go-cart - wheeled vehicle that can be pushed by a person; may have one or two or four wheels; "he used a handcart to carry the rocks away"; "their pushcart was piled high with groceries" handlebar - the shaped bar used to steer a bicycle French telephone, handset - telephone set with the mouthpiece and earpiece mounted on a single handle hand tool - a tool used with workers' hands hilt - the handle of a sword or dagger hoe handle - the handle of a hoe knob - a round handle ladle - a spoon-shaped vessel with a long handle; frequently used to transfer liquids from one container to another mop handle - the handle of a mop mug - with handle and usually cylindrical panhandle - the handle of a pan pommel - a handgrip that a gymnast uses when performing exercises on a pommel horse racquet, racket - a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games rake handle - the handle of a rake saucepan - a deep pan with a handle; used for stewing or boiling spatula - a turner with a narrow flexible blade stock - the handle end of some implements or tools; "he grabbed the cue by the stock" gunstock, stock - the handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gun; "the rifle had been fitted with a special stock" teacup - a cup from which tea is drunk umbrella - a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy watering can, watering pot - a container with a handle and a spout with a perforated nozzle; used to sprinkle water over plants | |
9. | ![]() enclosure - a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose ship - a vessel that carries passengers or freight | |
Verb | 1. | hold - 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" pressurise, pressurize - maintain a certain pressure; "the airplane cabin is pressurized"; "pressurize a space suit" preserve, uphold, carry on, continue, bear on - keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last; "preserve the peace in the family"; "continue the family tradition"; "Carry on the old traditions" hold over - keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time conserve - keep constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary change; "Energy is conserved in this process" preserve - keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing; "preserve the forest and the lakes" distance - keep at a distance; "we have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living" housekeep - maintain a household; take care of all business related to a household delay, detain, hold up - cause to be slowed down or delayed; "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform" hold back, arrest, turn back, contain, stop, check - hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" live on, survive, last, live, endure, hold out, hold up, go - continue to live through hardship or adversity; "We went without water and food for 3 days"; "These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America"; "The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents"; "how long can a person last without food and water?" hold over - keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time |
2. | hold - have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him" cling to, hold close, hold tight, clutch - hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm when she got scared" cradle - hold gently and carefully; "He cradles the child in his arms" clinch - hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches trap - hold or catch as if in a trap; "The gaps between the teeth trap food particles" cradle - hold or place in or as if in a cradle; "He cradled the infant in his arms" let go, let go of, release, relinquish - release, as from one's grip; "Let go of the door handle, please!"; "relinquish your grip on the rope--you won't fall" | |
3. | hold - organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course" direct - be in charge of | |
4. | hold - 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" maintain, sustain, keep - supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep" keep, hold on - retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married" keep - look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the shop when I am gone" maintain, keep - maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips" keep - have as a supply; "I always keep batteries in the freezer"; "keep food for a week in the pantry"; "She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator" monopolise, monopolize - have or exploit a monopoly of; "OPEC wants to monopolize oil" hold, bear - have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade" carry - have or possess something abstract; "I carry her image in my mind's eye"; "I will carry the secret to my grave"; "I carry these thoughts in the back of my head"; "I carry a lot of life insurance" | |
5. | hold - 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" hold - assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good" | |
6. | hold - maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment" feel, experience - undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind; "She felt resentful"; "He felt regret" | |
7. | hold - 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" disable, disenable, incapacitate - make unable to perform a certain action; "disable this command on your computer" tie down, tie up, truss, bind - secure with or as if with ropes; "tie down the prisoners"; "tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed" enchain - restrain or bind with chains pound up, pound - shut up or confine in any enclosure or within any bounds or limits; "The prisoners are safely pounded" ground - confine or restrict to the ground; "After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot" | |
8. | hold - secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree" keep, hold on - retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married" hold down - keep; "She manages to hold down two jobs" | |
9. | hold - have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade" | |
10. | hold - 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?" scaffold - provide with a scaffold for support; "scaffold the building before painting it" block - support, secure, or raise with a block; "block a plate for printing"; "block the wheels of a car" carry - bear or be able to bear the weight, pressure,or responsibility of; "His efforts carried the entire project"; "How many credits is this student carrying?"; "We carry a very large mortgage" chock - support on chocks; "chock the boat" pole - support on poles; "pole climbing plants like beans" bracket - support with brackets; "bracket bookshelves" underpin - support from beneath prop, prop up, shore up, shore - support by placing against something solid or rigid; "shore and buttress an old building" truss - support structurally; "truss the roofs"; "trussed bridges" brace - support by bracing | |
11. | ![]() include - have as a part, be made up out of; "The list includes the names of many famous writers" contain, hold, take - be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" retain - hold back within; "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"; "the dam retains the water" | |
12. | ![]() contain, hold, take - be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" sleep - be able to accommodate for sleeping; "This tent sleeps six people" house - contain or cover; "This box houses the gears" seat - be able to seat; "The theater seats 2,000" | |
13. | hold - remain in a certain state, position, or condition; "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching" | |
14. | ![]() sling - hold or carry in a sling; "he cannot button his shirt with his slinged arm" stoop - carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward; "The old man was stooping but he could walk around without a cane" piggyback - support on the back and shoulders; "He piggybacked her child so she could see the show" | |
15. | hold - be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds" | |
16. | hold - assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good" | |
17. | hold - have as a major characteristic; "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise" be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" | |
18. | hold - be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" contain, bear, carry, hold - contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water" accommodate, admit, hold - 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" | |
19. | hold - 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" call for, request, bespeak, quest - express the need or desire for; ask for; "She requested an extra bed in her room"; "She called for room service" reserve - obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance; "We managed to reserve a table at Maxim's" | |
20. | hold - protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" protect - shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" hold - take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" | |
21. | ![]() pledge - bind or secure by a pledge; "I was pledged to silence" article - bind by a contract; especially for a training period indenture, indent - bind by or as if by indentures, as of an apprentice or servant; "an indentured servant" tie down - restrain from independence by an obligation; "He was tied down by his work" relate - have or establish a relationship to; "She relates well to her peers" | |
22. | hold - hold the attention of; "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound" | |
23. | hold - remain committed to; "I hold to these ideas" | |
24. | hold - resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held" | |
25. | hold - 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" concern, have to do with, pertain, bear on, come to, touch on, refer, relate, touch - be relevant to; "There were lots of questions referring to her talk"; "My remark pertained to your earlier comments" lend oneself, apply - be applicable to; as to an analysis; "This theory lends itself well to our new data" | |
26. | hold - stop dealing with; "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting" | |
27. | ![]() confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends" conquer, inhibit, stamp down, suppress, subdue, curb - to put down by force or authority; "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires" damp - restrain or discourage; "the sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere" mortify, subdue, crucify - hold within limits and control; "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh" abnegate, deny - deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure; "She denied herself wine and spirits" keep back, restrain, hold back, keep - keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool" restrict - place under restrictions; limit access to; "This substance is controlled" train - cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it; "train the vine" catch - check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind" bate - moderate or restrain; lessen the force of; "He bated his breath when talking about this affair"; "capable of bating his enthusiasm" thermostat - control the temperature with a thermostat countercheck, counteract - oppose or check by a counteraction | |
28. | hold - keep from departing; "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse" | |
29. | hold - take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" | |
30. | ![]() stop - cause to stop; "stop a car"; "stop the thief" | |
31. | hold - cover as for protection against noise or smell; "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one's nose" cover - provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers" | |
32. | hold - drink alcohol without showing ill effects; "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry" | |
33. | hold - aim, point, or direct; "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames" | |
34. | ![]() pass judgment, evaluate, judge - form a critical opinion of; "I cannot judge some works of modern art"; "How do you evaluate this grant proposal?" "We shouldn't pass judgment on other people" acknowledge, admit - declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of; "He admitted his errors"; "She acknowledged that she might have forgotten" superannuate - declare to be obsolete certify - declare legally insane call - declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee; "call a runner out" beatify - declare (a dead person) to be blessed; the first step of achieving sainthood; "On Sunday, the martyr will be beatified by the Vatican" canonize, saint, canonise - declare (a dead person) to be a saint; "After he was shown to have performed a miracle, the priest was canonized" strike down, cancel - declare null and void; make ineffective; "Cancel the election results"; "strike down a law" | |
35. | ![]() settle - end a legal dispute by arriving at a settlement; "The two parties finally settled" conciliate, patch up, reconcile, settle, make up - come to terms; "After some discussion we finally made up" see eye to eye - be in agreement; "We never saw eye to eye on this question" agree - achieve harmony of opinion, feeling, or purpose; "No two of my colleagues would agree on whom to elect chairman" | |
36. | hold - keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath" |