hold

verb
UK: /həʊld/
US: /hoʊld/

  1. To take and keep something in your hand or arms.

    1. Please hold my bag for a moment. [ ] [ ]
    2. She tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't. [ ] [ ]

  2. To have or keep something; to support something.

    1. This box can hold many books. [ ] [ ]
    2. The old bridge can't hold the weight of heavy trucks. [ ] [ ]

  3. To keep someone in a place or state.

    1. The police hold him in jail. [ ] [ ]
    2. The bad weather will hold up the flight. [ ] [ ]

  4. To organize and have a meeting, competition, or event.

    1. The school will hold a fair next week. [ ] [ ]
    2. Our company will hold a conference to discuss future plans. [ ] [ ]

  5. To have an opinion or belief.

    1. I hold a different opinion on this. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many people hold the view that education is the key to success. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

keep think possess grasp control influence grip retain believe clutch consider
hold noun

  1. The act of holding something.

    1. I have a strong hold on the rope. [ ] [ ]
    2. The climber lost his hold and fell. [ ] [ ]

  2. A place where someone can hold something.

    1. The ship has a large hold for cargo. [ ] [ ]
    2. The gymnast had a great hold on the bar. [ ] [ ]

  3. Power or control over someone or something.

    1. The company has a strong hold on the market. [ ] [ ]
    2. She has a powerful hold over her students' attention. [ ] [ ]
hold adjective

  1. Relating to the part of a ship where goods are stored.

    1. They checked the hold area before departure. [ ] [ ]
    2. The hold cargo was inspected by customs officials at the port. [ ] [ ]
hold phrasal-verb

  1. To wait.

    1. Please hold on the line. [ ] [ ]
    2. Hold still while I take your picture. [ ] [ ]
hold idiom

  1. To be in a state of uncertainty or delay.

    1. Everything is on hold due to the rain. [ ] [ ]
    2. The project is on hold pending further funding. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hold" in English means: To take and keep something in your hand or arms., To have or keep something; to support something., To keep someone in a place or state., To organize and have a meeting, competition, or event., To have an opinion or belief..

The phonetic transcription of "hold" is /həʊld/ in British English and /hoʊld/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hold": keep, think, possess, grasp, control, influence, grip, retain, believe, clutch, consider.

Example usage of "hold": "Please hold my bag for a moment.". More examples on the page.