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hold `verb` [ həʊld ]

• grasp, carry, or support with one's hands.

• "she was holding a brown leather suitcase"

Similar: clasp, hold on to, clutch, grasp, grip, clench, cling to, have in one's hand, carry, bear, cleave to,

Opposite: release, let go of,

• keep or detain (someone).

• "the police were holding him on a murder charge"

Similar: detain, hold in custody, imprison, lock up, shut up, put behind bars, put in prison, put in jail, incarcerate, keep under lock and key, confine, impound, immure, intern, constrain, keep under constraint, put away, put inside,

Opposite: let go,

• remain secure, intact, or in position without breaking or giving way.

• "the boat's anchor would not hold"

• contain or be capable of containing (a specified amount).

• "the tank held twenty-four gallons"

Similar: have a capacity of, take, have room for, have space for, contain, comprise, accommodate, fit, seat, have seats for,

• have in one's possession.

• "the managing director still holds fifty shares in the company"

Similar: possess, have, own, bear, carry, be the owner of, have in one's possession, be in possession of, have to one's name,

• keep or reserve for someone.

• "a booking can be held for twenty-four hours"

• prevent from going ahead or occurring.

• "hold your fire!"

• arrange and take part in (a meeting or conversation).

• "a meeting was held at the church"

Similar: convene, call, assemble, summon, conduct, have, organize, run, preside over, officiate at, convoke,

Opposite: disband,

hold `noun`

• an act or manner of grasping something; a grip.

• "he caught hold of her arm"

Similar: grip, grasp, clasp, clutch, purchase, foothold, footing, toehold,

• power or control.

• "Tom had some kind of hold over his father"

Similar: influence, power, control, dominance, pull, sway, mastery, authority, leverage, clout, grip, stranglehold, dominion, ascendancy,

• a fortress.

Origin: Old English haldan, healdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch houden and German halten ; the noun is partly from Old Norse hald ‘hold, support, custody’.

hold `noun`

• a large compartment or space in the lower part of a ship or aircraft in which cargo is stowed.

Origin: late 16th century: from obsolete holl, from Old English hol (see hole). The addition of -d was due to association with hold1.

be left holding the baby

• be left with an unwelcome responsibility, typically without warning.

get hold of

• grasp physically.

hold the ball

• commit the offence of persisting to hold on to the ball after being legitimately tackled.
"they were caught holding the ball on several occasions"

hold someone/something cheap

• have a low opinion of someone or something.
"I began to dislike Linton, and to excuse his father for holding him cheap"

hold court

• be the centre of attention amidst a crowd of one's admirers.
"Lewis was holding court in the small dressing room"

hold someone/something dear

• care for or value someone or something greatly.
"fidelity is something most of us hold dear"

hold fast

• remain tightly secured.
"the door held fast, obviously locked"

hold the fort

• take responsibility for a situation while another person is temporarily absent.

hold someone's hand

• give a person comfort, guidance, or moral support in a difficult situation.

hold hands

• (of two or more people) clasp each other by the hand, typically as a sign of affection.

hold hard

• stop or wait.

hold someone/something harmless

• indemnify someone or something.

hold one's horses

• wait a moment.

hold the line

• not yield to the pressure of a difficult situation.
"France's central bank would hold the line"

hold the man

• commit the offence of holding on to an opposing player who is not in possession of the ball.
"he would pay a free kick for holding the man"

hold one's nose

• squeeze one's nostrils with one's fingers in order to avoid inhaling an unpleasant smell.
"I'm not looking forward to sitting in an old stadium where you've got to hold your nose when you go to the toilet"

hold serve

• (in tennis and other racket sports) win a game in which one is serving.

hold thumbs

• fold one's fingers over one's thumb to bring good luck.

hold true

• remain true or valid.
"his views still hold true today"

hold someone to bail

• bind someone by bail.

hold one's tongue

• remain silent.

hold water

• (of a statement, theory, or line of reasoning) appear to be valid, sound, or reasonable.
"this argument just does not hold water"

no holds barred

• (in wrestling) with no restrictions on the kinds of holds that are used.

on hold

• waiting to be connected while making a phone call.
"‘I'll just see if he's free,’ Rachel said, and put me on hold"

take hold

• start to have an effect.
"the reforms of the late nineteenth century had taken hold"

there is no holding someone

• used to convey that someone is particularly determined or cannot be prevented from doing something.
"once Eva had found her vocation there was no holding her"

hold against

• allow past actions or circumstances to have a negative influence on one's present attitude towards someone.
"he knew that if he failed her, she would hold it against him forever"

hold back

• hesitate to act or speak.
"he held back, remembering the mistake he had made before"

hold down

• prevent someone from moving by holding them firmly.
"I held him down until the police arrived"

hold forth

• talk lengthily, assertively, or tediously about a subject.
"a famous poet was holding forth, surrounded by admiring young writers and critics"

hold in

• suppress an expression of emotion.
"he tried to hold in his laughter but failed"

hold off

• (of bad weather) fail to occur.
"fortunately, the rain held off until the evening"

hold on

• grasp or support something with one's hands.
"it took all my strength to hold on"

hold out

• resist or survive in difficult circumstances.
"the troops held out against constant attacks"

hold out for

• continue to demand a particular thing, refusing to accept what has been offered.
"he is holding out for a guaranteed 7 per cent rise"

hold out on

• refuse to give something, typically information, to someone.
"you've been holding out on me"

hold over

• postpone something.
"the usual family gathering was held over until late January"

hold to

• refuse to abandon or change a principle or opinion.
"they held to the view that it was safe"

hold together

• remain united.
"if your party holds together, you will probably win"

hold up

• support and prevent something from falling.
"concrete pillars hold up the elevated section of the railway"

hold with

• approve of something.
"I don't hold with fighting or violence"