cup holding

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablesport

   The state or fact of being the current winner of a trophy or championship.

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun, often after a possessive: their cup holding lasted two seasons.

   Patterns

   • someone's cup holding
   • the cup holding of a team

   The club's cup holding ended when they lost the final on Saturday.

   After three years of cup holding, the side finally gave the trophy back.

   Their cup holding was the longest in the league's history.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounsport

   Currently holding a trophy or title after winning a competition.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun, like other describing words: a cup-holding captain.

   Patterns

   • cup-holding team
   • cup-holding captain
   • cup-holding champion

   The cup-holding team will play its first match of the new season next week.

   As cup-holding captain, she lifted the trophy in front of the crowd.

   The cup-holding side is expected to defend its title this year.

Common combinations

cup-holding team

The cup-holding team opens the season at home.

cup-holding captain

The cup-holding captain spoke to reporters after the match.

cup-holding side

Every cup-holding side wants to keep the trophy.

end a cup holding

A surprise defeat ended their cup holding.

Synonyms and how they differ

title-holding

Very close in meaning, but it is used for league or championship titles rather than a physical cup.

reigning

A more common adjective for the current winner; it goes before words like champion or champion team and sounds more natural in most writing.

Word family

cup noun

A metal container given as a prize to the winner of a competition.

holder noun

The person or team that currently has a trophy or title.

Commonly confused: cup holding or cup holder?

Practice

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