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to hold

to hold

26 2.2
To keep someone's attention
  • verb
  • /hoʊld/
: mantener la atención
  • Listen, we can discuss the book on Friday in class if you... ...think the Count can hold their attention.
  • hold the attention
  • hold the interest
  • attract and hold

Indeed, it constantly, obsessively holds our attention.

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Examples

  • Indeed, it constantly, obsessively holds our attention.

  • Workshops that emphasize the interest factor in teaching, which holds and maintains pupil attention, are paramount.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Yeah, but you know how to hold people's attention.

  • At the inn, one suspenseful encounter after another holds the interest of the reader.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The speaker managed to hold the audience's attention with her captivating story.

  • The documentary holds our interest by providing unexpected insights into nature.

  • His humor and charm held the attention of everyone at the party.

Synonyms

to keep
vsto hold
∞ 1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

is specifically about retaining attention or interest rather than any general state
to catch
vsto hold
278 2.0

To get someone's attention or interest

is focused on keeping attention over time rather than first attraction
to capture
vsto hold
75 3.0

To attract and hold someone's interest or affection

expresses the same retention of attention or liking in broader terms
to fascinate
vsto hold
51 3.4

To attract and hold someone's strong interest or attention

is the broader act of retaining attention, not only extreme interest
to grip
vsto hold
36 6.0

To hold someone's attention or emotions strongly

refers more generally to keeping attention without implying frozen reaction
23 3.2

To attract and keep people's interest

is the general action of keeping attention rather than naming the act specifically
to rivet
vsto hold
22 6.1

To hold someone's full attention because something is very interesting or surprising

covers the same attraction but can include less intense attention
to seize
vsto hold
12 3.8

Grab and hold someone's attention suddenly and strongly

covers steady retention of attention rather than sudden, intense onset
to keep someone hooked
vsto hold
  • Informal
4 4.6

Make someone want to keep watching or reading

is similar but covers any form of retaining attention, not only ongoing engagement
to arrest
vsto hold
2 5.1

To catch and hold someone's attention

is a more neutral action of retaining attention without forcible stopping
to keep captive
vsto hold
2 6.7

Hold someone's full attention so they cannot think of anything else

means the same retention but not necessarily complete exclusion of other focus
to spellbind
vsto hold
1 7.0

To hold people completely interested as if by magic

is the general term for keeping attention without implying magic or wonder
4.4

Make someone notice something

implies longer, sustained attention rather than a short, passing notice

Antonyms

451 2.1

To make someone stop paying attention to what they are doing or thinking about

64 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

Idioms

163 2.5

Stopped for a short time until someone decides to continue

107 1.2

Ask someone to wait for a short time

to hold a grudge
  • Informal
35 4.8

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

12 8.1

Do not expect it to happen soon or at all

to hold the bag
  • Informal
12 8.8

End up responsible for the blame or a problem others avoid

11 6.1

To have control or an advantage in a situation

10 8.2

Tell someone to wait so you can check or explain something

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

8 5.5

To have complete control and a strong advantage in a situation

Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever

3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

hold my beer
  • Slang
2 9.9

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

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

too hot to hold
  • Informal
1 7.6

So popular that people buy it very quickly

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

to hold the baby
  • Informal
1 8.8

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

1 7.5

To do something unpleasant because it is necessary

1 5.0

Do as well as others in a difficult situation

1 9.0

To drink alcohol without becoming very drunk or sick

1 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

8.1

To be able to drink alcohol without getting drunk

7.2

Tell someone to wait and be patient

9.7

To keep from peeing for a while

Act proudly and confidently, not ashamed

9.9

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

7.8

Drink alcohol without getting drunk

Do what you promised in an agreement

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

Phrasal Verbs

to hold on
  • Informal
∞ 1.3

To wait for a short time during a phone call

365 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

330 1.6

To keep something instead of selling or giving it away

313 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

237 3.7

To remain strong or effective under pressure

213 3.2

To contact a person or obtain something you need

196 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

194 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

188 3.4

To support the weight of something so it does not fall

Keep parts or people joined and working as one

161 2.8

To cause a delay in plans or progress

145 2.0

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

141 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

to hold tight
  • Informal
127 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

116 3.5

Wait before doing something because you feel unsure

104 2.5

To take something in your hand

102 3.5

To put a hand forward to show or give something

99 3.8

To wait before doing something

88 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

To reach someone by phone or message

86 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

82 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

78 4.0

To stop an opponent from moving forward by keeping your position

65 4.5

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings

58 3.2

Keep something for later use

Keep something or someone in place and still

44 5.6

To stop shooting or attacking and wait before taking action

To wait before doing something

38 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

37 3.5

To care about someone or something very much

34 3.7

To show someone as an example to praise or admire

33 3.8

To begin to control a situation or people's actions

Grab something or someone with your hands

26 5.6

Stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

To feel strong dislike and no respect for someone or something

To refuse to change a decision or rule under pressure

22 6.7

Ask someone to wait before saying more about an idea

21 3.9

To keep a job or position during difficult times

To feel a strong emotion suddenly that controls you

20 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

19 4.5

Take care of a place or job while someone is away

to hold up
  • NSFW
18 5.8

To rob someone using a weapon or threats

17 4.9

To make sense and seem believable when checked

17 5.5

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

14 4.5

To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

13 6.6

To have power over people or situations

To keep a job for a long time despite problems

11 4.1

Be as good as people expect

10 7.4

To get people to listen and enjoy what you say

9 7.2

To threaten someone with secret information to make them obey

To threaten someone with a past mistake to control them

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

7 3.7

Keep something available while you delay a final decision

7 5.8

Do your share of the work in a group

6 3.9

To last long enough when supplies or power are low

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

5 4.6

To keep something for use or sale after its planned time

5 8.3

To agree with an idea or way of doing things

To wait on the phone without hanging up

To still be correct when people look at it carefully

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

to hold a patent
  • Specialized
1 4.8

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

to hold alcohol
  • Informal
1 6.8

Can drink alcohol without getting drunk quickly

To keep prices or spending at the same level

to hold cheap
  • Literature
1 7.2

To think someone or something has little value

To stop breathing for a short time or wait anxiously

1 7.5

Allow something unpleasant without complaining

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

To stop yourself from making a sound when something is funny

5.5

To stay calm and in control during a difficult situation

To keep reminding someone of a past mistake to control them

Compounds

34 3.9

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

18 3.9

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

12 4.8

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

8 5.4

A robbery using threats or a sudden delay

choke hold
  • NSFW
6 7.5

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

wrestling hold
  • Specialized
1 4.7

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

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

hold-up play
  • Jargon
1 5.9

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

1 7.0

A rule that limits how much something can rise

1 4.1

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

A big delay that stops or slows progress

scissors hold
  • Jargon
8.1

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

How Engaging

to mesmerize
  • US
6 6.4
to captivate
28 4.2
to engage
39 3.5
to hold
26 2.2
to interest
189 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Hold comes from Old English healdan, meaning 'to keep' or 'keep close', so a story or speech that 'holds' people simply 'keeps' their attention.