hold
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
How often you will meet it
Rank 439 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 46,156 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.022% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean” also: keep, maintain hold in placeShe always held herself as a lady
- have or hold in one's hands or grip also: take hold Hold this bowl for a moment, pleaseA crazy idea took hold of him
- organize or be responsible for also: throw, have, make, give hold a receptionhave, throw, or make a party
- have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense also: have, have got She has $1,000 in the bankHe has got two beautiful daughters
- keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view also: deem, view as, take for take for grantedview as important
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings) also: harbor, harbour, entertain, nurse bear a grudgeentertain interesting notions
hold in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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They will not hold their debates in Latin.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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A lumberman: perchance, in hold Prostrate pines with hemlocks rolled.
John Marr and Other Poems · Herman Melville · Chapter 1
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Again that throaty, threatening growl, and again the president's hand went up--the boys were hard to hold.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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She slipped out of his hold without speaking, and he stooped down and felt for the key.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Yet, when they have separated, they never fail to hold one another up to ridicule and contempt.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1