Meaning & use
Hold
Last updated
To grasp, carry, or support something with one's hands or arms; to keep or maintain something in a particular position or state.
See it in a sentence
She held her daughter's hand as they crossed the street.
The judge asked the jury to hold their questions until the end of testimony.
A note on using this word
"Hold" is one of the most versatile verbs in English, forming dozens of phrasal verbs and idioms such as "hold on," "hold up," and "hold out."
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
The cargo storage area below the deck of a ship or aircraft.
The crew loaded crates into the ship's hold.
3. noun
A grip or grasp on something, or a controlling influence.
She kept a firm hold on the railing during the storm.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Hold”, then compare your use with the examples above.