ENGLISH
REFERENCE

holed

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhoʊɫd// UK //hˈəʊld// holed

adj. hiding or staying in a safe place, often because you are trying to avoid other people or trouble.

adj. remaining in a secure or secluded location, typically for protection or to avoid detection. Often appears in the phrasal form 'holed up' and follows a linking verb.


SIMPLE

The hikers were holed up in a small cabin during the storm.

CONTEXTUAL

The suspect remained holed up in the apartment for several hours before finally surrendering to the police.

COMPLEX

While the rest of the team celebrated at the gala, the lead researcher stayed holed up in the laboratory, determined to finalize the data before the morning deadline.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used predicatively after 'be', 'stay', or 'remain'. Frequently pairs with the particle 'up'.

Pitfall

They were hold up in the house.They were holed up in the house.Learners often confuse the spelling with 'hold' because the phrase implies staying in one place, but it comes from the noun 'hole'.

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