to hold
- verb
- /hoʊld/
- 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.
- Indeed, it constantly, obsessively holds our attention.
- And then that holds the eye, moves the eye, right?
- OK, so people with ADHD have trouble holding their attention.
- Which is, which is very simply, this is what holds the attention of our society.
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 continue doing something or stay in the same state
To get someone's attention or interest
To attract and hold someone's strong interest or attention
Grab and hold someone's attention suddenly and strongly
To hold someone's attention or emotions strongly
To attract and hold someone's interest or affection
To hold someone's full attention because something is very interesting or surprising
To catch and hold someone's attention
To hold people completely interested as if by magic
To attract and keep people's interest
Make someone want to keep watching or reading
Make someone notice something
Hold someone's full attention so they cannot think of anything else
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
To feel angry at someone for something they did in the past that hurt you
- Informal
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever
- Informal
To have the only responsibility for a hard problem when others avoid it
- Slang
A joking request to someone to hold your drink before doing something daring
- Slang
A joking way to say you will try something daring or foolish after someone else does
To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both
Phrasal Verbs
- Specialized
To have the right given by the government to make or sell an invention
Compounds
- NSFW
A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out
- Jargon
A position where someone wraps their legs around an opponent's body or head and presses their feet together to squeeze
- Jargon
A wrestler wraps their legs around someone's body or head and squeezes them with the feet
How Engaging
Surface Forms
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.