Hold definition

Hold as a verb

1. cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity

   "hold in place"

   Same sense: keep, maintain

2. have or hold in one's hands or grip

   "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"

3. organize or be responsible for

   "hold a reception"

   Same sense: have, make, give, throw

4. have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

   "She holds a Master's degree from Harvard"

   Same sense: have, have got

5. keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

   "hold these truths to be self-evident"

   Same sense: take for, view as, deem

6. maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

   Same sense: bear, nurse, harbor, harbour, entertain

7. to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement

   "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"

   Same sense: restrain, confine, constrain

8. secure and keep for possible future use or application

   Same sense: keep back, hold back, retain

9. have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices

   Same sense: bear

10. be the physical support of; carry the weight of

    "The beam holds up the roof"

    Same sense: support, hold up, sustain

11. contain or hold; have within

    "The canteen holds fresh water"

    Same sense: carry, bear, contain

12. have room for; hold without crowding

    "The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people"

    Same sense: admit, accommodate

13. remain in a certain state, position, or condition

14. support or hold in a certain manner

    "She holds her head high"

    Same sense: carry, bear

15. be valid, applicable, or true

    "This theory still holds"

    Same sense: obtain, prevail

16. assert or affirm

    "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good"

17. have as a major characteristic

    "The novel holds many surprises"

18. be capable of holding or containing

    "The flask holds one gallon"

    Same sense: take, contain

19. arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance

    "please hold a table at Maxim's"

    Same sense: book, reserve

20. protect against a challenge or attack

    "Hold that position behind the trees!"

    Same sense: guard, defend

21. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

    "I'll hold you by your promise"

    Same sense: bind, oblige, obligate

22. hold the attention of

    "She can hold an audience spellbound"

23. remain committed to

    "I hold to these ideas"

24. resist or confront with resistance

    Same sense: hold up, withstand, defy

25. be pertinent or relevant or applicable

    "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"

    Same sense: go for, apply

26. stop dealing with

    "hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting"

27. lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

    "hold your tongue"

    Same sense: control, check, hold in, contain, moderate, curb

28. keep from departing

    "Hold the taxi"

29. take and maintain control over, often by violent means

30. cause to come to an abrupt stop

    Same sense: arrest, halt

31. cover as for protection against noise or smell

    "hold one's nose"

32. drink alcohol without showing ill effects

    "He can hold his liquor"

    Same sense: carry

33. aim, point, or direct

    "Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames"

34. declare to be

    Same sense: declare, adjudge

35. be in accord; be in agreement

    "I hold with those who say life is sacred"

    Same sense: agree, concord, concur

36. keep from exhaling or expelling

    "hold your breath"

Hold as a noun

37. the act of grasping

    "she kept a firm hold on the railing"

    Same sense: grip, grasp, clutch, clutches, clasp, clench

38. understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

    Same sense: appreciation, grasp

39. power by which something or someone is affected or dominated

    "he has a hold over them"

40. time during which some action is awaited

    "he ordered a hold in the action"

    Same sense: wait, delay, time lag, postponement

41. a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

    "the prisoner is on hold"

    Same sense: custody, detention, detainment

42. a stronghold

43. a cell in a jail or prison

    Same sense: keep

44. the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

    Same sense: handle, grip, handgrip

45. the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

    Same sense: storage area, cargo area, cargo hold, cargo deck

Synonyms and antonyms

• keep definition
• maintain
• have
• make definition
• give definition
• throw
• have got
• take for
• view as
• deem
• bear
• nurse
• harbor
• harbour
• entertain
• restrain
• confine
• constrain
• keep back
• hold back
• retain
• support definition
• hold up
• sustain

Opposite: let go of.

How to say hold

Hold has 1 syllable and rhymes with old. Syllable counts and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary.

Words that rhyme with hold

• old
• told
• gold
• cold
• sold
• controlled
• household
• bold
• rolled
• fold
• threshold
• enrolled

HOLD in word games

Scrabble

8

Words With Friends

8

Anagrams

0

Is HOLD a valid Scrabble word? Yes, it is in the ENABLE list most word games use. Check HOLD in the word checker, or unscramble HOLD to see the shorter words in its letters.