hold

/həʊld/ verb (held)

Definition

A2 to have something in your hand or arms: He was holding a glass of wine. She held the baby in her arms.

B1 to keep something in a particular position: Can you hold the door open, please? Hold your hand up if you know the answer.

B1 to organize an event: They are holding an election.

B1 to contain something: The bucket holds about ten litres.

› to keep someone in a place so that the person cannot leave: I was held prisoner in a tiny room.

Hold it! informal › used to tell someone to wait: Hold it! I’ve forgotten my coat.

hold your breath › to stop breathing for a time

(Definition of hold verb from the Cambridge Essential Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

to get rid of something or someone that is not wanted or needed

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.