hold
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to take and keep something in your hand or arms.
v.to grasp, carry, or support with one's hands or arms.
Simple“Can you hold my bag for a second while I find my keys?”
In context“The mother held her newborn infant with such delicate care that she seemed afraid any sudden movement might wake him.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to have enough space for a certain amount of people or things.
v.to have the capacity for or to contain a specified volume or number.
Simple“This stadium can hold up to fifty thousand fans.”
In context“The new reservoir is designed to hold millions of gallons of water, providing a crucial buffer during the dry summer months.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to make an event happen, like a meeting, a party, or an election.
v.to conduct or preside over an event, meeting, or ceremony; frequently used in the passive voice.
Simple“The school will hold a graduation ceremony in the main hall.”
In context“The committee decided to hold the annual general meeting via video conference to ensure maximum participation from international members.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice: 'The meeting was held'.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to have a particular opinion or belief about something.
v.to maintain a particular opinion, belief, or theory.
Simple“Many people hold the view that technology makes life easier.”
In context“The court held that the defendant had acted in self-defense, effectively ending the three-year legal battle.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
v.to wait on a telephone line until the person you want to talk to is free.
v.to remain on a telephone connection without hanging up.
Simple“The operator asked me to hold while she checked my reservation.”
In context“I had to hold for nearly forty minutes before a customer service representative finally answered my call.”
UsageOften used as 'hold on' or 'stay on the line'.
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.you say this when you want a meal without a specific ingredient.
v.to request the omission of a standard component in a food or drink order.
Simple“I'll have a cheeseburger, but please hold the onions.”
In context“The customer requested a large pepperoni pizza but asked the kitchen to hold the olives due to a severe allergy.”
- 07 B1 Intermediate
n.the act of gripping something or the way you grip it.
n.an act or manner of grasping or gripping something physically.
Simple“He lost his hold on the rope and fell into the water.”
In context“The climber struggled to find a secure hold on the icy rock face as the wind began to pick up.”
- 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the area in a ship or aircraft where goods are carried.
n.the lower part of a ship's hull or the freight compartment of an aircraft.
Simple“The luggage was loaded into the plane's cargo hold.”
In context“The ship's hold was packed with crates of exotic spices destined for the European markets.”
Synonyms - 09 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.power or influence over someone or something.
n.a position of power, influence, or control over a person or situation.
Simple“The cult leader had a strange hold over his followers.”
In context“The financial crisis took a firm hold on the nation's economy, leading to years of slow growth and high unemployment.”
Usage hold back · hold onto · hold to two
“Naju Ceesay knew the joys of motherhood, only to lose the children she had waited so long to hold.”
“He too plans to keep hold of his shares in the hope that they will rise again.”
Derived from Middle English holden, derived from Old English healdan, derived from Proto-West Germanic haldan, derived from Proto-Germanic haldaną (“to tend, herd”), maybe derived from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to drive”). Doublet of halt. Cognates *West Frisian hâlde *Low German holden, holen *Dutch houden *German halten *Danish *Norwegian Bokmål holde *Norwegian Nynorsk halda. Compare Latin celer (“quick”), Tocharian B käl- (“to goad, drive”), Ancient Greek κέλλω (kéllō, “to drive”), Sanskrit कलयति (kalayati, “to impel”).
Alteration (due to hold) of hole. Cognate with Dutch hol (“hole, cave, den, cavity, cargo hold”), Dutch holte (“cavity, hollow, den”).
From Middle English hold, holde, from Old English hold (“gracious, friendly, kind”), from Proto-West Germanic holþ, from Proto-Germanic hulþaz (“favourable, gracious, loyal”), from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to tend, incline, bend, tip”). Cognate with German hold (“gracious, friendly, sympathetic, grateful”), Danish and Swedish huld (“fair, kindly, gracious”), Icelandic hollur (“faithful, dedicated, loyal”), German Huld (“grace, favour”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.