to take hold of

Examples

• All

• When he came back, I... took hold of the pistol.

  Under Capricorn (1949)

• Hannah shrugs and takes hold of his wrist, turning it to see the time.

  Fiction book (1990)

• - The day before my father died, he took hold of my hand, and he looked at it.

  On the Road (2012)

• Take hold of the car right now.

  AWOL-72 (2015)

• Take hold of my arm, all right?

  The Descent (2005)

• Take hold of my hand.

  Ben Is Back (2018)

• "No, no," he said with a small smile, and he took hold of the suitcase himself.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Good people of Magdeburg, take hold of the raft while you still can.

  Luther (2003)

• We took hold of it and he swung us to the shore.

  Remember the Sultana (2015)

• As he adjusts the covers, she reaches up and takes hold of his hand.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

C

to catch

vsto take hold of

∞ 1.0

To take hold of a moving person or thing to stop it

is deliberate seizing regardless of movement rather than catching motion

G

to grab

vsto take hold of

∞ 1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

is deliberate and controlled rather than sudden or eager taking

P

to pick up

vsto take hold of

834 1.0

To lift something or someone from the ground with your hands

is deliberate seizing in place rather than lifting from below

S

to seize

vsto take hold of

277 3.2

To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force

is deliberate taking rather than sudden forceful capture

H

to hold onto

vsto take hold of

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

focuses on the initial deliberate taking rather than maintaining grip

H

to hold on

vsto take hold of

141 2.0

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

is about deliberately seizing rather than continuous holding for safety

S

to snatch

vsto take hold of

136 3.0

To take something quickly with your hand

is deliberate taking rather than abrupt or hasty action

S

to squeeze

vsto take hold of

119 1.6

To press something firmly with your hand or fingers

is about seizing deliberately rather than applying pressing force

C

to clutch

vsto take hold of

118 3.4

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

is deliberate seizing rather than emotionally driven tight holding

G

to grip

vsto take hold of

85 1.3

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

is the deliberate initial act rather than sustained resistance

C

to cling to

vsto take hold of

61 3.4

To hold tightly to someone or something because of fear, need, affection

is a deliberate physical taking rather than clinging from emotion

G

to grasp

vsto take hold of

60 1.1

To take and hold something firmly with the hands

is deliberate action rather than just firm holding

H

to hold tight

vsto take hold of

• Informal

42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

is the deliberate act of taking hold rather than safety emphasis

G

to get hold of

vsto take hold of

24 2.5

To take something in your hand

emphasizes deliberate seizing rather than general obtaining

S

to snatch up

vsto take hold of

24 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is a deliberate controlled taking rather than eager sudden motion

T

to take hold

vsto take hold of

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

is the same meaning but appears in the key's full phrasing

G

to grapple

vsto take hold of

10 5.1

To grab and hold someone or something during a struggle

is deliberate taking without the struggle or combat element

H

to hold someone's hand

vsto take hold of

• Informal

10 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

is physical deliberate taking rather than a supportive social gesture

T

to take someone's arm

vsto take hold of

5 3.2

Hold someone's arm to help or guide them while walking

is deliberate seizing rather than a guiding supportive hold

L

to lay hands on

vsto take hold of

1 4.6

To touch or hold something with your hands

is a deliberate seizure rather than general handling or touch

G

to grab waddy

vsto take hold of

• Australian

9.9

To take hold of a stick or tool quickly and firmly

is general deliberate seizing, not limited to one tool

P

to prehend

vsto take hold of

• Archaic

9.9

To take and hold something with a hand or tail

is everyday deliberate seizing rather than technical terminology

H

to hent

vsto take hold of

• Archaic

9.9

To take and hold something quickly

is the modern deliberate phrasing rather than the old form

Antonyms

R

to release

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

L

to let go of

356 1.9

To stop holding something so it is not in your hand

How Tight

to seize

277 3.2

to clutch

118 3.4

to grasp

60 1.1

to take hold of

21 3.1

grab

59 1.0

to hold

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology