held Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
   hold; maintain; keep.
   
   • hold in place
   • She always held herself as a lady
   • The students keep me on my toes
2. verb have or hold in one's hands or grip
   take hold; hold.
   
   • Hold this bowl for a moment, please
   • A crazy idea took hold of him
3. verb organize or be responsible for
   make; hold; throw; have; give.
   
   • hold a reception
   • have, throw, or make a party
   • give a course
4. verb have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
   hold; have got; have.
   
   • She has $1,000 in the bank
   • He has got two beautiful daughters
   • She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
5. verb keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
   take for; hold; deem; view as.
   
   • take for granted
   • view as important
   • hold these truths to be self-evident
   • I hold him personally responsible
6. verb maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
   harbor; entertain; nurse; hold; harbour.
   
   • bear a grudge
   • entertain interesting notions
   • harbor a resentment
7. verb to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
   hold; confine; restrain.
   
   • This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
   • About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade
   • The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center
   • The terrorists held the journalists for ransom
8. verb secure and keep for possible future use or application
   retain; keep back; hold; hold back.
   
   • The landlord retained the security deposit
   • I reserve the right to disagree
9. verb have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
   hold; bear.
   
   • She bears the title of Duchess
   • He held the governorship for almost a decade
10. verb be the physical support of; carry the weight of
    support; hold; sustain; hold up.
    
    • The beam holds up the roof
    • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
    • What's holding that mirror?
11. verb contain or hold; have within
    carry; hold; bear; contain.
    
    • The jar carries wine
    • The canteen holds fresh water
    • This can contains water
12. verb have room for; hold without crowding
    accommodate; admit; hold.
    
    • This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
    • The theater admits 300 people
    • The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people
13. verb remain in a certain state, position, or condition
    hold.
    
    • The weather held
    • They held on the road and kept marching
14. verb support or hold in a certain manner
    carry; hold; bear.
    
    • She holds her head high
    • He carried himself upright
15. verb be valid, applicable, or true
    hold; prevail; obtain.
    
    • This theory still holds
16. verb assert or affirm
    hold.
    
    • Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good
17. verb have as a major characteristic
    hold.
    
    • The novel holds many surprises
    • The book holds in store much valuable advise
18. verb be capable of holding or containing
    hold; take; contain.
    
    • This box won't take all the items
    • The flask holds one gallon
19. verb arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
    hold; book; reserve.
    
    • reserve me a seat on a flight
    • The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
    • please hold a table at Maxim's
20. verb protect against a challenge or attack
    defend; hold; guard.
    
    • Hold that position behind the trees!
    • Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
21. verb bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
    oblige; bind; obligate; hold.
    
    • He's held by a contract
    • I'll hold you by your promise
22. verb hold the attention of
    hold.
    
    • The soprano held the audience
    • This story held our interest
    • She can hold an audience spellbound
23. verb remain committed to
    hold.
    
    • I hold to these ideas
24. verb resist or confront with resistance
    withstand; defy; hold; hold up.
    
    • The politician defied public opinion
    • The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
    • The bridge held
25. verb be pertinent or relevant or applicable
    apply; hold; go for.
    
    • The same laws apply to you!
    • This theory holds for all irrational numbers
    • The same rules go for everyone
26. verb stop dealing with
    hold.
    
    • hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting
27. verb lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
    control; moderate; hold in; curb; contain; hold; check.
    
    • moderate your alcohol intake
    • hold your tongue
    • hold your temper
    • control your anger
28. verb keep from departing
    hold.
    
    • Hold the taxi
    • Hold the horse
29. verb take and maintain control over, often by violent means
    hold.
    
    • The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week
30. verb cause to stop
    arrest; hold; halt.
    
    • Halt the engines
    • Arrest the progress
    • halt the presses
31. verb cover as for protection against noise or smell
    hold.
    
    • She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate
    • hold one's nose
32. verb drink alcohol without showing ill effects
    carry; hold.
    
    • He can hold his liquor
    • he had drunk more than he could carry
33. verb aim, point, or direct
    hold.
    
    • Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames
34. verb declare to be
    hold; adjudge; declare.
    
    • She was declared incompetent
    • judge held that the defendant was innocent
35. verb be in accord; be in agreement
    hold; concur; agree; concord.
    
    • We agreed on the terms of the settlement
    • I can't agree with you!
    • I hold with those who say life is sacred
    • Both philosophers concord on this point
36. verb keep from exhaling or expelling
    hold.
    
    • hold your breath
37. adjective occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
    
    • enemy-held territory

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