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- pronunciation:
- hold
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
- phrases:
- hold against, hold back, hold good, hold off, hold on, hold one's own, hold out, hold over, hold still, hold up, take hold
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Builder, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
holds, holding, held |
| definition 1: |
to have or contain within one's hand or hands.
The child held the coin tightly.
- synonyms:
- clasp, clutch, grip
- antonyms:
- let go, release
- similar words:
- clench, contain, handle, have, palm, retain, seize
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| definition 2: |
to support and control by means of an instrument or part of the body.
He held the shrimp with his chopsticks.She held a newspaper under her arm.The man held the cigar between his teeth.- synonyms:
- clutch, grip
- similar words:
- suspend
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| definition 3: |
to keep until requested.
Please hold this letter until I return.- synonyms:
- keep, preserve, reserve, retain
- similar words:
- maintain, save, take care of, watch
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| definition 4: |
to contain within a specified area.
The small theater only holds a hundred people.- synonyms:
- accommodate, carry, contain
- similar words:
- encompass, include, seat
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| definition 5: |
to keep in a forcible manner.
The English pirates held the Spanish captain as a prisoner.The women were held against their will.- synonyms:
- confine, coop, detain, restrain
- antonyms:
- let go, release
- similar words:
- constrain, contain, fix, impound, imprison, incarcerate, jail, kidnap, pen, restrict, retain
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| definition 6: |
to organize, have, or preside over.
Let's hold a meeting next week to discuss this matter.- synonyms:
- conduct, run
- antonyms:
- disband
- similar words:
- administer, convene, manage, muster, observe, occupy, officiate, preside
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| definition 7: |
to exercise control over; restrain.
She held her temper despite the provocation.- synonyms:
- bottle up, contain, control, curb, keep, rein, restrain, restrict
- antonyms:
- unleash
- similar words:
- check, confine, damp, impede, inhibit, leash, repress, reserve, retain, retard, slow, stay, suppress, swallow, withhold
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| definition 8: |
to have as an opinion or belief; believe; adhere to.
He holds some odd ideas, doesn't he?She still holds the belief that her son is alive.The author holds that the dropping of the bomb was not necessary to stop the war.- synonyms:
- believe, espouse, harbor, maintain
- similar words:
- absorb, assert, embrace, endorse, entertain, nurse, possess, support, uphold
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| definition 9: |
to maintain the interest of.
Her speech held the audience.- synonyms:
- engage, engross, enthrall, fascinate
- antonyms:
- lose
- similar words:
- absorb, arrest, carry, fix, grip, immerse, interest, occupy, spellbind, transfix
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| related words: |
aver, backlog, bust, catch, engross, esteem, fascinate, fasten, grasp, grip, harbor, keep, leave, lodge, own, possess, press, rein, span, spare, stem, store, think, touch, wait |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to keep to a specified position, condition, or course.
Hold still until I tell you to move.Hold to the main road.- synonyms:
- continue, hold tight, keep, persist, remain, stay
- similar words:
- bite, hew, stick
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| definition 2: |
to maintain a position faithfully.
Hold to your ideas.- synonyms:
- persist, stick by
- similar words:
- adhere, carry on, cleave, cling, insist, keep
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| definition 3: |
to assent or agree (usu. fol. by "with").
She doesn't hold with such notions.- synonyms:
- agree, approve, concur, subscribe
- similar words:
- believe, consider, defend
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| definition 4: |
to remain valid.
That regulation doesn't hold anymore.- synonyms:
- hold water, stand
- similar words:
- follow, obtain, persist, prevail, prove, remain, square
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| related words: |
believe, bond, hang on, stand, store |
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| phrase: |
hold against, hold back, hold good, hold off, hold on, hold one's own, hold out, hold over, hold still, hold up |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act of grasping by physical means.
- synonyms:
- clasp, grasp, grip
- similar words:
- bite, clinch, clutch, grapple, hug, purchase
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| definition 2: |
something to grasp, such as a handle or other support.
- synonyms:
- grip, handhold, handle
- similar words:
- banister, haft, handrail, knob
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| definition 3: |
a thing that adheres to something else.
- synonyms:
- grip
- similar words:
- clamp, clasp, clip, fastening
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| definition 4: |
an order to delay or reserve an item, action, or situation.
a hold on construction- synonyms:
- delay, postponement
- similar words:
- deferment, hiatus, reservation
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| definition 5: |
a controlling influence.
She has a hold on me.- synonyms:
- clutch, grasp, grip, influence
- similar words:
- clout, leash, magnetism, mastery, power, sway
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| related words: |
bond, catch, clench, fall, grip, handle, influence, lock, possession, pull |
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| phrase: |
take hold |
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