hold

holdverb

To hold is to keep someone or something in one place or state, with your hands or in some other way.

1. in your handshave something in your hand or hands, or in your arms

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • She was holding a cup of coffee. V + obj
   • Can you hold my bag for a minute? V + obj
   • He held the baby in his arms. V + obj + prep + obj
   • They walked along the beach holding hands. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun hold hands, hold a baby, hold a pen

   adverb + verb hold tightly, hold firmly, hold carefully

   verb + preposition hold something in your hand, hold someone in your arms

   Compare carry

2. keep in positionkeep something or someone in a particular position

   transitive [T] verb + object + adverb [V + obj + adv] verb + object + adjective [V + obj + adj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • Hold your head up. V + obj + adv
   • Could you hold the door open for me? V + obj + adj
   • The shelf is held up by two screws. V + obj + adv (passive)
   • Hold the ladder still while I climb up. V + obj + adj

   Collocations

   phrase hold something open, hold something still, hold something in place, hold something up

   Synonyms keep

3. containhave enough space for a particular amount or number

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous] not used in the passive [no passive]

   • This bottle holds one liter. V + obj
   • How many people does the hall hold? V + obj
   • The car can hold five passengers. V + obj

   Collocations

   noun + verb a room holds, a bottle holds

   Synonyms contain

4. meeting or eventhave a meeting, a party, or another event

   Often used in the passive with on for a day and at or in for a place.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The meeting will be held on Monday. V + obj (passive)
   • We're holding a party for her birthday. V + obj
   • The school holds a concert every summer. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun hold a meeting, hold a party, hold an election, hold a competition, hold talks

   phrase be held on a day, be held at a place

5. havehave a job, an official paper, a record, or an opinion

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous] formal

   • She holds a senior position in the company. V + obj
   • You must hold a valid driver's license. V + obj
   • They hold strong opinions on the subject. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun hold a position, hold a license, hold a record, hold an opinion, hold a view

6. continuecontinue in the same way, without changing, stopping, or breaking

   intransitive [I]

   • I hope the good weather holds for the weekend.
   • The rope held, and we pulled him to safety.
   • Will the old bridge hold if the river rises?

   Collocations

   noun + verb the weather holds, the rope holds, the ice holds

   Synonyms last

   1. abe true, or apply to someone or something

      Often in hold true or hold for someone or something.

      intransitive [I] verb + adjective [V + adj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

      • The same rule holds for children under five. V + prep + obj
      • Does that advice still hold true today? V + adj

      Collocations

      phrase hold true, hold for something

7. on the phonewait on the phone until someone can speak to you

   intransitive [I]

   • Please hold, and I'll put you through.
   • Can you hold for a moment?
   • I've been holding for twenty minutes.

   Collocations

   verb + noun hold the line

   phrase please hold

   Synonyms wait

8. keep as prisonerkeep someone in a place so that they cannot leave

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + noun complement [V + obj + noun]

   • The police are holding two men for questioning. V + obj
   • They were held prisoner for a week. V + obj + noun (passive)
   • He was held in a small room without windows. V + obj (passive)

   Collocations

   phrase hold someone prisoner, hold someone hostage, hold someone for questioning

See also hold on; hold up; hold back