holding Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of retaining something
    keeping; retention.
  2. noun something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone;
    belongings; property.
    • that hat is my property
    • he is a man of property
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. verb organize or be responsible for
    make; hold; throw; have; give.
    • hold a reception
    • have, throw, or make a party
    • give a course
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. verb maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
    harbor; entertain; nurse; hold; harbour.
    • bear a grudge
    • entertain interesting notions
    • harbor a resentment
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. verb have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
    hold; bear.
    • She bears the title of Duchess
    • He held the governorship for almost a decade
  12. 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?
  13. verb contain or hold; have within
    carry; hold; bear; contain.
    • The jar carries wine
    • The canteen holds fresh water
    • This can contains water
  14. 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
  15. verb remain in a certain state, position, or condition
    hold.
    • The weather held
    • They held on the road and kept marching
  16. verb support or hold in a certain manner
    carry; hold; bear.
    • She holds her head high
    • He carried himself upright
  17. verb be valid, applicable, or true
    hold; prevail; obtain.
    • This theory still holds
  18. verb assert or affirm
    hold.
    • Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good
  19. verb have as a major characteristic
    hold.
    • The novel holds many surprises
    • The book holds in store much valuable advise
  20. verb be capable of holding or containing
    hold; take; contain.
    • This box won't take all the items
    • The flask holds one gallon
  21. 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
  22. verb protect against a challenge or attack
    defend; hold; guard.
    • Hold that position behind the trees!
    • Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks
  23. 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
  24. verb hold the attention of
    hold.
    • The soprano held the audience
    • This story held our interest
    • She can hold an audience spellbound
  25. verb remain committed to
    hold.
    • I hold to these ideas
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. verb stop dealing with
    hold.
    • hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting
  29. 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
  30. verb keep from departing
    hold.
    • Hold the taxi
    • Hold the horse
  31. verb take and maintain control over, often by violent means
    hold.
    • The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week
  32. verb cause to stop
    arrest; hold; halt.
    • Halt the engines
    • Arrest the progress
    • halt the presses
  33. verb cover as for protection against noise or smell
    hold.
    • She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate
    • hold one's nose
  34. verb drink alcohol without showing ill effects
    carry; hold.
    • He can hold his liquor
    • he had drunk more than he could carry
  35. verb aim, point, or direct
    hold.
    • Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames
  36. verb declare to be
    hold; adjudge; declare.
    • She was declared incompetent
    • judge held that the defendant was innocent
  37. 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
  38. verb keep from exhaling or expelling
    hold.
    • hold your breath

WordNet


Hold"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act or state of sustaining, grasping, or retaining.
  2. A tenure; a farm or other estate held of another.
  3. That which holds, binds, or influences. Burke.
  4. The burden or chorus of a song. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913