• synonyms


See more synonyms for hold on Thesaurus.com
  4. to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound.
  5. to detain: The police held him at the station house.
  6. to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting.
  7. to keep back from action; hinder; restrain: Fear held him from acting.
  8. to have the ownership or use of; keep as one's own; occupy: to hold political office.
  9. to contain or be capable of containing: This bottle holds a quart.
  11. to have or keep in the mind; think or believe: We hold this belief.
  12. to regard or consider: to hold a person responsible.
  13. to decide legally.
  14. to consider of a certain value; rate: We held her best of all the applicants.
  15. to keep forcibly, as against an adversary: Enemy forces held the hill.
  17. Music. to sustain (a note, chord, or rest).
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verb (used without object), held; held or (Archaic) hold·en; hold·ing.
  2. to remain fast; adhere; cling: Will this button hold?
  3. to keep or maintain a grasp on something.
  4. to maintain one's position against opposition; continue in resistance.
  5. to agree or side (usually followed by with): to hold with new methods.
  8. to remain valid; be in force: The rule does not hold.
  9. to refrain or forbear (usually used imperatively).
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  2. something to hold a thing by, as a handle; something to grasp, especially for support.
  3. something that holds fast or supports something else.
  4. an order reserving something: to put a hold on a library book.
  5. Finance. a security purchased or recommended for long-term growth.
  6. a controlling force or dominating influence: to have a hold on a person.
  7. Wrestling. a method of seizing an opponent and keeping him in control: a toe hold.
  8. Music. fermata.
  9. a pause or delay, as in a continuing series: a hold in the movements of a dance.
  10. a prison or prison cell.
  11. a receptacle for something: a basket used as a hold for letters.
  13. a fortified place; stronghold.
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Verb Phrases
  1. hold back,
    1. to restrain or check: Police held back the crowd.
    2. to retain possession of; keep back: He held back ten dollars.
    3. to refrain from revealing; withhold: to hold back information.
    5. Photography.dodge(def 2).
  2. hold down,
    1. to restrain; check: Hold down that noise!
    2. to continue to hold and manage well: She held down that job for years.
  3. hold forth,
    1. to extend or offer; propose.
  4. hold in,
    1. to restrain; check; curb.
  5. hold off,
    1. to keep at a distance; resist; repel.
  6. hold on,
    1. to keep a firm grip on.
    2. to keep going; continue.
    3. to maintain, as one's opinion or position.
  7. hold out,
    1. to present; offer.
    2. to stretch forth; extend: Hold out your hand.
    3. to continue to exist; last: Will the food hold out?
    4. to refuse to yield or submit: The defenders held out for weeks.
    5. to withhold something expected or due: He was suspected of holding out information important to the case.
  8. hold over,
    1. to keep for future consideration or action; postpone.
    3. to remain beyond the arranged period: The movie was held over for a week.
    4. Music.to prolong (a tone) from one measure to the next.
  9. hold up,
    1. to offer; give: She held up his father as an example to follow.
    2. to present to notice; expose: to hold someone up to ridicule.
    3. to hinder; delay: The plane's departure was held up because of the storm.
    4. to stop by force in order to rob.
    5. to support; uphold: to hold up farm prices.
    6. to stop; halt: They held up at the gate.
    7. to maintain one's position or condition; endure: They held up through all their troubles.
  10. hold with,
    1. to be in agreement with; concur with: I don't hold with his pessimistic views.
    2. to approve of; condone: They won't hold with such a travesty of justice.
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  1. get hold of,
    1. to get a hold on: Get hold of the railing.
  2. hold one's own. own(def 11).
  3. hold one's peace. peace(def 14).
  4. hold one's tongue. tongue(def 33).
  5. hold water. water(def 37).
  6. no holds barred, without limits, rules, or restraints.
  7. on hold,
    2. Telecommunications.in or into a state of temporary interruption in a telephone connection: I'm putting you on hold to answer another call.Compare call waiting.
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Origin of hold1

Related formshold·a·ble, adjective


See more synonyms for hold on Thesaurus.com

Synonym study


British Dictionary definitions for hold to


verb holds, holding or held (hɛld)
  2. (tr) to support or bearto hold a drowning man's head above water
  3. to maintain or be maintained in a specified state or conditionto hold one's emotions in check; hold firm
  4. (tr) to set aside or reservethey will hold our tickets until tomorrow
  5. (when intr, usually used in commands) to restrain or be restrained from motion, action, departure, etchold that man until the police come
  6. (intr) to remain fast or unbrokenthat cable won't hold much longer
  7. (intr) (of the weather) to remain dry and brighthow long will the weather hold?
  8. (tr) to keep the attention ofher singing held the audience
  9. (tr) to engage in or carry onto hold a meeting
  10. (tr) to have the ownership, possession, etc, ofhe holds a law degree from London; who's holding the ace of spades?
  11. (tr) to have the use of or responsibility forto hold the office of director
  12. (tr) to have the space or capacity forthe carton will hold only eight books
  13. (tr) to be able to control the outward effects of drinking beer, spirits, etche can hold his drink well
  14. (often foll by to or by) to remain or cause to remain committed tohold him to his promise; he held by his views in spite of opposition
  15. (tr; takes a clause as object) to claimhe holds that the theory is incorrect
  16. (intr) to remain relevant, valid, or truethe old philosophies don't hold nowadays
  17. (tr) to keep in the mindto hold affection for someone
  18. (tr) to regard or consider in a specified mannerI hold him very dear
  19. (tr) to guard or defend successfullyhold the fort against the attack
  20. (intr) to continue to gohold on one's way
  21. (sometimes foll by on) music to sustain the sound of (a note) throughout its specified durationto hold on a semibreve for its full value
  22. (tr) computing to retain (data) in a storage device after copying onto another storage device or onto another location in the same deviceCompare clear (def. 49)
  23. (tr) to be in possession of illegal drugs
  24. hold for or hold good for to apply or be relevant tothe same rules hold for everyone
  25. holding thumbs Southern African holding the thumb of one hand with the other, in the hope of bringing good luck
  26. hold it!
    1. stop! wait!
    2. stay in the same position! as when being photographed
  29. hold one's peace or hold one's tongue to keep silent
  30. hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent
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  1. the act or method of holding fast or grasping, as with the hands
  2. something to hold onto, as for support or control
  4. controlling force or influenceshe has a hold on him
  5. a short delay or pause
  6. a prison or a cell in a prison
  7. wrestling a way of seizing one's opponenta wrist hold
  8. music a pause or fermata
    1. a tenure or holding, esp of land
    2. (in combination)leasehold; freehold; copyhold
  9. a container
  10. archaic a fortified place
  11. get hold of
    1. to obtain
    2. to come into contact with
  12. no holds barred all limitations removed
  13. on hold in a state of temporary postponement or delay
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Derived Formsholdable, adjective

Word Origin



  1. the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo
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Word Origin

C16: variant of hole

Word Origin and History for hold to





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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with hold to

hold to

Remain loyal or faithful to, abide by, as in She held to her resolutions, or He held to his view that the interest rate should be lowered. [c. 1200] Also see stick by; stick to.

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