hold
Explore definitions, synonyms, and language insights of hold
Definitions
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"
Noun
understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"
Noun
power by which something or someone is affected or dominated; "he has a hold over them"
Noun
time during which some action is awaited; "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
Noun
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"
Noun
a stronghold
Noun
a cell in a jail or prison
Noun
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"
Noun
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"
Verb
have or hold in one''s hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him"
Verb
organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course"
Verb
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"
Verb
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"
Verb
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"
Verb
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"
Verb
secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
Verb
have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade"
Verb
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?"
Verb
contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water"
Verb
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"
Verb
remain in a certain state, position, or condition; "The weather held"; "They held on the road and kept marching"
Verb
support or hold in a certain manner; "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright"
Verb
be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds"
Verb
assert or affirm; "Rousseau''s philosophy holds that people are inherently good"
Verb
have as a major characteristic; "The novel holds many surprises"; "The book holds in store much valuable advise"
Verb
be capable of holding or containing; "This box won''t take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon"
Verb
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"
Verb
protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy''s attacks"
Verb
bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He''s held by a contract"; "I''ll hold you by your promise"
Verb
hold the attention of; "The soprano held the audience"; "This story held our interest"; "She can hold an audience spellbound"
Verb
remain committed to; "I hold to these ideas"
Verb
resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"
Verb
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"
Verb
stop dealing with; "hold all calls to the President''s office while he is in a meeting"
Verb
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"
Verb
keep from departing; "Hold the taxi"; "Hold the horse"
Verb
take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President''s office for almost a week"
Verb
cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
Verb
cover as for protection against noise or smell; "She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate"; "hold one''s nose"
Verb
drink alcohol without showing ill effects; "He can hold his liquor"; "he had drunk more than he could carry"
Verb
aim, point, or direct; "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"
Verb
declare to be; "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent"
Verb
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"
Verb
keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"
Synonyms
accommodate
adjudge
admit
agree
apply
appreciation
arrest
bear
bind
book
cargo area
cargo deck
cargo hold
carry
check
clasp
clench
clutch
clutches
concord
concur
confine
contain
control
curb
custody
declare
deem
defend
defy
delay
detainment
detention
entertain
give
go for
grasp
grip
guard
halt
handgrip
handle
harbor
harbour
have
have got
hold back
hold in
hold up
keep
keep back
maintain
make
moderate
nurse
obligate
oblige
obtain
postponement
prevail
reserve
restrain
retain
storage area
support
sustain
take
take for
take hold
throw
time lag
view as
wait
withstand
More General Terms
affirm
aim
appendage
apprehension
assert
aver
avow
be
bear on
becharm
beguile
believe
bespeak
bewitch
booze
break
call for
captivate
capture
catch
cell
charm
come to
command
conceive
concern
confinement
consider
continue
control
cover
defer
direct
disable
discernment
disenable
drink
enamor
enamour
enchant
enclosure
entrance
evaluate
exist
experience
fascinate
fastness
feel
fuddle
go along
go on
grasping
have
have got
have-to doe with
hold
hold back
hold on
hold out
hold over
incapacitate
include
intermission
interruption
jail cell
judge
keep
keep back
pass judgment
pause
pertain
postpone
prehension
prevent
prison cell
proceed
prorogue
protect
put off
put over
quest
reckon
refer
regard
relate
remit
request
resist
restrain
savvy
see
seizing
set back
shelve
stand firm
stop
stronghold
suspension
swan
swear
table
take
take aim
taking hold
think
touch
touch on
train
trance
understanding
verify
view
withstand
More Specific Terms
abnegate
acknowledge
acquit
admit
arrange
article
ax handle
axe handle
balance
bastardise
bastardize
bate
bear
bear on
beatify
behave
bind
block
bound
brace
bracket
brave
brave out
broom handle
broomstick
buoy
buoy up
call
cancel
canonise
canonize
carry
carry on
catch
certify
chock
choke hold
chokehold
clinch
cling to
clutch
comport
concede
conciliate
conclude
conduct
confine
conquer
conserve
continue
counteract
countercheck
cradle
crop
crucify
curb
damp
deny
deport
distance
embrace
embracement
embracing
enchain
enclose
endure
exert
extension
fetter
fix up
fold
formalise
formalize
grant
grasp
ground
gunstock
haft
helve
hilt
hoe handle
hold
hold close
hold down
hold in
hold on
hold open
hold over
hold tight
house
housekeep
impound
indent
indenture
inhibit
interlace
interlock
judge
keep
keep open
knob
label
limit
lock
maintain
make up
monopolise
monopolize
mop handle
moratorium
mortify
panhandle
patch up
pen up
piggyback
pinion
pledge
poise
pole
pommel
pound
pound up
preserve
pressurise
pressurize
pronounce
prop
prop up
rake handle
reconcile
resolve
restrain
restrict
retain
retardation
saddlebow
saint
save
scaffold
seat
see eye to eye
sense
settle
shackle
shore
shore up
sleep
sling
stamp down
stock
stockpile
stoop
strike down
subdue
subscribe
superannuate
support
suppress
sustain
thermostat
throttle
tie down
tie up
train
trammel
trap
truss
underpin
uphold
weather
wield
wrestling hold
yield