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to hold

to hold

1.0
To carry or support something with your hands
  • verb
  • /hoʊld/
translation icon : sostener
  • Place your right hand on your right leg and hold your left hand above it.
  • hold hands
  • hold a stick
  • hold a sword

It's like, oh, just hold me, hold me.

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Examples

  • The teacher asked the student to hold the book up for the class to see.

  • Hold this in your right hand, hold this in your left hand.

  • I mean, I can hold it for hours.

  • I just need someone to hold my hand and I need the team.

  • Would you hold these for me?

  • Maybe take a walk with her, hold her hand, tickle her.

  • Hold my hand.

  • Hold it right there!

  • Please hold the cup carefully so it won't spill.

  • He can hold the guitar in a comfortable position while playing.

Synonyms

to grab
vsto hold
1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

is less hurried, also meaning steady carrying, supporting, or keeping
to hang
vsto hold
2.7

To hold on tightly so you do not let go

is broader, also including casual carrying or temporary support
to support
vsto hold
240 1.0

Hold up something so it does not fall

also covers grasping or carrying in the hands rather than only bearing
to cling
vsto hold
240 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

is more general, including simple holding, carrying, or supporting
to hold onto
vsto hold
180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

is broader, also meaning to carry or support beyond just keeping grip
to hold on
vsto hold
141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

is broader, also covering carrying or supporting without risk of loss
to clutch
vsto hold
118 3.4

To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling

is more neutral, covering ordinary grasping and simple support
to hold up
vsto hold
115 3.4

To support the weight of something so it does not fall

includes this but also covers simple grasping and keeping in hands
to grip
vsto hold
85 1.3

To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe

is more general, including simple carrying or keeping without strain
to grasp
vsto hold
60 1.1

To take and hold something firmly with the hands

is wider, covering also carrying and supporting beyond firm holding
to hold tight
vsto hold
  • Informal
42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

is wider, including gentle carrying or simple possession
to sustain
vsto hold
41 4.1

To hold up something heavy so it does not fall

is broader, also meaning to grasp, hold, or keep in hands
to clasp
vsto hold
33 2.6

To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands

is more general, covering loose carrying as well as tight holding
to get hold of
vsto hold
24 2.5

To take something in your hand

is broader, also including supporting and carrying rather than only obtaining
to take hold of
vsto hold
21 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

is broader, also including carrying, supporting, or keeping objects
to take hold
vsto hold
15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

is broader, also including carrying, supporting, or keeping objects
to hold close
vsto hold
1 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

is more general, including other ways of carrying or supporting

Antonyms

1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

1.0

To let something fall suddenly or by accident

356 1.9

To stop holding something so it is not in your hand

Idioms

169 2.5

Stopped for a short time until someone decides to continue

75 1.2

Ask someone to wait for a short time

to hold a grudge
  • Informal
42 4.8

To feel angry at someone for something they did in the past that hurt you

Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them

to hold the bag
  • Informal
11 8.8

End up responsible for the blame or a problem others avoid

8 6.1

To have control or an advantage in a situation

8 8.2

Tell someone to wait so you can check or explain something

7 5.5

To have complete control and a strong advantage in a situation

Do what you promised in an agreement

4 4.4

Act proudly and confidently, not ashamed

3 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever

1 8.1

Do not expect it to happen soon or at all

Keep speaking for a long time in a meeting so others cannot speak

1 7.2

Tell someone to wait and be patient

1 9.7

To keep from peeing for a while

1 7.8

Drink alcohol without getting drunk

to hold the baby
  • Informal
1 8.8

To have the only responsibility for a hard problem when others avoid it

8.1

To be able to drink alcohol without getting drunk

9.0

To drink alcohol without becoming very drunk or sick

9.9

A joking request to someone to hold your drink before doing something daring

hold my beer
  • Slang
9.9

A joking way to say you will try something daring or foolish after someone else does

7.5

To do something unpleasant because it is necessary

5.0

Do as well as others in a difficult situation

Keep a wedding ring safely until it is needed in the ceremony

To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both

too hot to hold
  • Informal
7.6

So popular that people buy it very quickly

Phrasal Verbs

to hold on
  • Informal
1.3

To wait for a short time during a phone call

187 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

173 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

163 3.7

To remain strong or effective under pressure

141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

139 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

115 3.4

To support the weight of something so it does not fall

108 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

90 2.8

To cause a delay in plans or progress

Keep parts or people joined and working as one

89 3.7

To show someone as an example to praise or admire

89 3.5

To put a hand forward to show or give something

78 3.8

To wait before doing something

72 1.6

To keep something instead of selling or giving it away

66 3.2

To contact a person or obtain something you need

65 4.5

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings

61 5.6

Stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

55 4.0

To stop an opponent from moving forward by keeping your position

47 5.6

To stop shooting or attacking and wait before taking action

to hold tight
  • Informal
42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

To wait before doing something

To reach someone by phone or message

33 3.8

To begin to control a situation or people's actions

to hold up
  • NSFW
28 5.8

To rob someone using a weapon or threats

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

To take something in your hand

To feel strong dislike and no respect for someone or something

22 3.5

To care about someone or something very much

22 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

21 6.7

Ask someone to wait before saying more about an idea

Grab something or someone with your hands

19 4.5

Take care of a place or job while someone is away

17 3.2

Keep something for later use

Keep something or someone in place and still

16 3.5

Wait before doing something because you feel unsure

15 3.9

To keep a job or position during difficult times

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

15 3.9

To last long enough when supplies or power are low

14 3.7

Keep something available while you delay a final decision

To wait on the phone without hanging up

12 4.9

To make sense and seem believable when checked

11 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

To stop breathing for a short time or wait anxiously

10 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

9 4.5

To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

9 6.6

To have power over people or situations

To keep a job for a long time despite problems

8 5.8

Do your share of the work in a group

To refuse to change a decision or rule under pressure

To feel a strong emotion suddenly that controls you

To get people to listen and enjoy what you say

Be as good as people expect

Talk for a long time about a subject, like giving a lecture

4 8.3

To agree with an idea or way of doing things

To keep prices or spending at the same level

To keep reminding someone of a past mistake to control them

3 7.2

To threaten someone with secret information to make them obey

1 4.6

To keep something for use or sale after its planned time

To keep a light near someone so they can see what they are doing

to hold a patent
  • Specialized
1 4.8

To have the right given by the government to make or sell an invention

To make you think about the past because of an object or place

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

To still be correct when people look at it carefully

to hold alcohol
  • Informal
6.8

Can drink alcohol without getting drunk quickly

To stop yourself from making a sound when something is funny

to hold cheap
  • Literature
7.2

To think someone or something has little value

5.5

To stay calm and in control during a difficult situation

To threaten someone with a past mistake to control them

To keep trying to reach a goal even when things are hard

7.5

Allow something unpleasant without complaining

Compounds

18 3.9

A process in which an idea or habit starts to be accepted by many people

16 3.9

A space on a ship or plane that contains goods during transport

15 5.4

A robbery using threats or a sudden delay

choke hold
  • NSFW
7 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

3 4.1

A firm grip with the hands or arms that keeps something from moving

1 4.8

A thing you can hold for support, or simple help for someone new

scissor hold
  • Jargon
1 7.8

A position where someone wraps their legs around an opponent's body or head and presses their feet together to squeeze

wrestling hold
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A grip or move used to control an opponent in a match

A big delay that stops or slows progress

7.0

A rule that limits how much something can rise

hold-up play
  • Jargon
5.9

A way a player keeps the ball to let teammates move forward

scissors hold
  • Jargon
8.1

A wrestler wraps their legs around someone's body or head and squeezes them with the feet

How Firm

to clench
70 3.5
to squeeze
119 1.6
clutch
3 3.9
grip
116 1.0
to hold
1.0
to cradle
30 4.1

Surface Forms

hold infinitive
holding present participle
holds third person singular
held past
held past participle

Etymology

Hold comes from the Old English word healdan, which meant 'to hold' or 'keep', and you can see the same idea in holder, something that keeps or supports an object; so to hold is to grasp, carry, or support something.