Skip to main content
to hole

to hole

1 6.2
To sink the ball into the cup in golf
  • verb
  • /hoʊl/
: embocar
  • He jogged over to them for high-fives, waited for Mickelson to play a wedge into the green, and then holed the 25-foot birdie putt.
  • hole the putt
  • hole the shot
  • hole a chip

Examples

  • Look, you can hole out a wedge for a goddamn eagle.

  • By the time Sidney McMurdo had holed out at the tenth for a four, which gave him the match, we were alone except for the caddies.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • And if I'm keepin' the score correctly, you will have to hole that ball on that green to beat me.

  • She never visits the places where the mothers and children are holed up.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • In golf, the number of expected strokes to get the ball in the hole is known as Trevor Parr.

  • Webb had to hole a 15-foot putt for double bogey, dropping her back to a 71, five shots behind.

    Blog text (22)
  • He tied for 10th in the McGladrey Classic, where he holed out with an 8-iron for eagle on the 11th hole and closed with a 67.

    Blog text (12)
  • Lefty then holed the birdie putt for a 2-up lead, and Garcia missed a 3-foot par putt on the next hole.

    Blog text (7)
  • To win the match, he needs to hole his final putt on the 18th green.

  • The golfer celebrated after he finally holed a challenging shot from the edge of the green.

Synonyms

to putt
vsto hole
7 3.7

Gently hit a golf ball along the green toward the hole

is the finishing stroke that sinks the ball and ends play
to hole out
vsto hole
1 7.0

To hit a golf ball into the hole to finish the play

is the single-word verb used for finishing play instead of a phrasal form

Antonyms

80 3.1

A failure to hit or reach a target

Idioms

in the hole
  • Informal
32 8.0

To owe more money than you have

ace in the hole
  • Informal
11 6.1

A hidden advantage you keep until you need it

5 8.9

A shouted warning that a blast or sudden danger is about to happen

Money makes someone want to spend it quickly

A person who does not fit into a job or group

hole in the head
  • Informal
1 9.7

A foolish excuse that is clearly not true

To cause problems for yourself because of your actions

Not helpful and not wanted in any situation

To do something very foolish and not needed

Phrasal Verbs

to hole up
  • Informal
74 6.8

To stay in a safe place and avoid going out, often to hide

To drop into a hole by accident

2 7.3

An animal taking shelter in a safe place to sleep through winter

To get out of a difficult situation after mistakes or bad luck

1 7.0

To hit a golf ball into the hole to finish the play

Compounds

black hole
  • Specialized
123 5.1

An area of space with gravity so strong that not even light can escape it

59 2.3

A hole in a wall, window, or piece of clothing made by a bullet

51 5.5

A thing, like a failing project, that uses a lot of time or money and gives nothing back

rabbit hole
  • Texting
24 6.0

A long series of online links or pages that makes you lose track of time

15 2.4

A low place in the ground where animals drink water

watering hole
  • Informal
11 3.4

A bar or pub where people meet to drink and talk

9 3.4

A hole in the ground where wild rabbits live and hide

8 3.3

A golf shot that gets the ball into the hole with one hit

8 3.7

A small natural pool in a river or stream where people swim

A small hidden restaurant or cafe that looks simple but serves very good food

drill hole
  • Specialized
6 4.4

A hole made with a drill to take samples or put instruments into rock

6 2.4

A small hole that lets air move through for breathing or ventilation

ozone hole
  • Specialized
5 4.6

A thin area high above the Earth near the poles where a protective gas becomes very low

5 2.7

A golf shot that puts the ball in the hole from the tee in one hit

dry hole
  • Jargon
4 7.7

An attempt that has no result, like a well that finds no oil

hidey-hole
  • Informal
3 7.5

A small secret place to keep things safe or be alone

glory hole
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A hole in a wall used for sexual contact without seeing the other person

hole card
  • Jargon
2 7.7

A card dealt face down to a player in poker

2 3.4

A hole in the ground made by a gopher that leads to its home

1 2.3

A small hole left in wood or a wall after you remove a nail

1 2.8

A hole for a finger that helps you hold or move something

1 4.9

An opening in clothing or a mask that lets you breathe and speak

1 3.0

An opening in a helmet or other head covering that lets sound reach your ear

sound hole
  • Specialized
1 4.9

An opening in the top of an instrument with strings, like a guitar, that makes its sound louder

1 2.8

A hole dug in the ground to hold a fence post

1 8.1

A secret advantage saved to use later

1 3.0

The area on a golf course played from the tee to the cup

1 7.2

A dish of sausages baked in a soft batter like Yorkshire pudding

1 6.5

A small hole that lets gas or air escape

word hole
  • Informal
1 9.9

A confusing, unfocused discussion that goes nowhere

1 8.6

A hole an animal runs into to hide from danger

1 7.1

An opening in a roof or wall that lets smoke from a fire escape

honey hole
  • Informal
1 8.3

A place where many good things are found, often a favorite fishing spot

watering hole
  • Jargon
1 8.6

A website that attackers secretly change to infect visitors' computers or steal passwords

A tool with two blades for digging deep narrow holes to put posts in

1 8.5

A hollow in the ground that forms when buried ice melts and is often filled with water

1 7.4

An opening at the front of something for easy access

drinking hole
  • Informal
1 4.4

A relaxed bar or pub where people meet to drink alcohol

1 9.9

A hole in the ground where water goes underground into caves, often in limestone

A small prison cell in Fort William, Calcutta, where many British prisoners died overnight in 1756

funk hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small underground shelter where people hide to stay safe during danger

1 3.7

A small flat piece used to cover screw holes in furniture

visual hole
  • Jargon
1 7.5

An empty area in a design that distracts the viewer from the main message

hole-in-corner
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant

lubber's hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A hole in the mast platform that lets a sailor climb through from inside the rigging

shot hole
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A hole that workers drill in rock or earth to hold explosives for blasting

glory hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small storage locker on a boat used for keeping equipment

A small opening you look through to watch without being seen

dookie hole
  • Offensive
9.9

A very dirty, unpleasant place, often a public toilet

6.5

A sudden area of falling air that makes a plane drop

5.4

A bar or pub that people visit often and like

finger hole
  • Specialized
4.8

A hole on a wind instrument like a flute covered or uncovered by your finger to change the note

hole-and-corner
  • Archaic
9.3

A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts

Surface Forms

hole infinitive
holed past
holed past participle
holing present participle
holes third person singular

Etymology

The verb hole in golf comes from the noun hole (from old German hol 'hollow') and means to put the ball into the hollow. So when you hole your shot, you sink the ball into the hole and finish that play.