hold

Nouns

(n) the act of grasping
- he released his clasp on my arm
- he has a strong grip for an old man
- she kept a firm hold on the railing
clutch, clutches, grip, clasp, clench, grasp,
(n) understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
- he has a good grasp of accounting practices
appreciation, grasp,
(n) power by which something or someone is affected or dominated
- he has a hold over them
(n) time during which some action is awaited
- instant replay caused too long a delay
- he ordered a hold in the action
delay, postponement, time lag, wait,
(n) a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
- his detention was politically motivated
- the prisoner is on hold
- he is in the custody of police
custody, detainment, detention,
(n) a stronghold
(n) a cell in a jail or prison keep,
(n) the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
- he grabbed the hammer by the handle
- it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip
handgrip, handle, grip,
(n) the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, storage area,

Verbs

(v) keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
- hold in place
- She always held herself as a lady
- The students keep me on my toes
keep, maintain,
(v) have or hold in one's hands or grip
- Hold this bowl for a moment, please
- A crazy idea took hold of him
take hold,
(v) organize or be responsible for
- hold a reception
- have, throw, or make a party
- give a course
give, have, throw, make,
(v) have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
- She has $1,000 in the bank
- He has got two beautiful daughters
- She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
have, have got,
(v) keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
- take for granted
- view as important
- hold these truths to be self-evident
- I hold him personally responsible
deem, take for, view as,
(v) maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
- bear a grudge
- entertain interesting notions
- harbor a resentment
harbor, nurse, entertain, harbour,
(v) to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
- This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
- About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade
- The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center
- The terrorists held the journalists for ransom
restrain, confine,
(v) secure and keep for possible future use or application
- The landlord retained the security deposit
- I reserve the right to disagree
keep back, retain, hold back,
(v) have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
- She bears the title of Duchess
- He held the governorship for almost a decade
bear,
(v) be the physical support of; carry the weight of
- The beam holds up the roof
- He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
- What's holding that mirror?
hold up, support, sustain,
(v) contain or hold; have within
- The jar carries wine
- The canteen holds fresh water
- This can contains water
contain, bear, carry,
(v) have room for; hold without crowding
- This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
- The theater admits 300 people
- The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people
accommodate, admit,
(v) remain in a certain state, position, or condition
- The weather held
- They held on the road and kept marching
(v) support or hold in a certain manner
- She holds her head high
- He carried himself upright
carry, bear,
(v) be valid, applicable, or true
- This theory still holds
prevail, obtain,
(v) assert or affirm
- Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good
(v) have as a major characteristic
- The novel holds many surprises
- The book holds in store much valuable advise
(v) be capable of holding or containing
- This box won't take all the items
- The flask holds one gallon
contain, take,
(v) arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
- reserve me a seat on a flight
- The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
- please hold a table at Maxim's
book, reserve,
(v) protect against a challenge or attack
- Hold that position behind the trees!
- Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
defend, guard,
(v) bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
- He's held by a contract
- I'll hold you by your promise
oblige, obligate, bind,
(v) hold the attention of
- The soprano held the audience
- This story held our interest
- She can hold an audience spellbound
(v) remain committed to
- I hold to these ideas
(v) resist or confront with resistance
- The politician defied public opinion
- The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
- The bridge held
defy, withstand, hold up,
(v) be pertinent or relevant or applicable
- The same laws apply to you!
- This theory holds for all irrational numbers
- The same rules go for everyone
go for, apply,
(v) stop dealing with
- hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting
(v) lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
- moderate your alcohol intake
- hold your tongue
- hold your temper
- control your anger
curb, control, hold in, contain, moderate, check,
(v) keep from departing
- Hold the taxi
- Hold the horse
(v) take and maintain control over, often by violent means
- The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week
(v) cause to stop
- Halt the engines
- Arrest the progress
- halt the presses
halt, arrest,
(v) cover as for protection against noise or smell
- She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate
- hold one's nose
(v) drink alcohol without showing ill effects
- He can hold his liquor
- he had drunk more than he could carry
carry,
(v) aim, point, or direct
- Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames
(v) declare to be
- She was declared incompetent
- judge held that the defendant was innocent
adjudge, declare,
(v) be in accord; be in agreement
- We agreed on the terms of the settlement
- I can't agree with you!
- I hold with those who say life is sacred
- Both philosophers concord on this point
agree, concur, concord,
(v) keep from exhaling or expelling
- hold your breath

Synonyms

clutch clutches grip clasp clench grasp keep maintain appreciation take hold give have throw make have got delay postponement time lag wait custody detainment detention deem take for view as harbor nurse entertain harbour restrain confine keep back retain hold back handgrip handle bear cargo area cargo deck cargo hold storage area hold up support sustain contain carry accommodate admit prevail obtain take book reserve defend guard oblige obligate bind defy withstand go for apply curb control hold in moderate check halt arrest adjudge declare agree concur concord

Antonyms

let go let go of release relinquish disagree take issue differ dissent

Words of close approximity

hole holy

hob hod hoe hog hop hot hoy

hoar hoax hobo hock Hodr hogg Hoka hole holy home homo homy hone honk hood hoof hook hoop hoot hope Hopi hops horn hose host Hoth hour Howe howl hoya