hold
To hold something is to have it in your hand. You can also use “hold” when there’s a planned gathering of people meeting for a specific purpose:
- Classes are held inside a school.
- A meeting may be held in a conference room.
- A child holds onto a parent’s hand.
- I hold a marker in my hand as I am teaching and writing at a whiteboard.
- What are you holding in your hand?
The teacher is holding a class. (active voice)
The class is held in a classroom. (passive voice)
a. hold = to have in one's hand or possess something
You hold something in your hand or in your hands.
- I’m holding a pen in my hand.
- You hold a spoon in your hand when you eat a bowl of cereal.
- Hold onto the railing when walking down the stairs.
- The girl and the boy are holding hands. How sweet!
- What are you holding in your hands?
- She couldn’t hold onto the pan any longer because it was too hot.
The verb “hold” is also used for possession. When you keep something in your possession, you hold it.
- The woman held onto her old boyfriend’s letter for many years after they ended their relationship.
- Why are you still holding onto that old couch? It looks terrible.
- The company holds a large amount of cash right now.
- He’s holding a book in his hands.
- He’s holding some flowers behind his back.
b. hold = to have a meeting
Use “hold” for meetings, events, ceremonies, and other situations in which people gather together for a common purpose.
- They hold a meeting at their office every Monday morning.
- The classes that I teach are held in a classroom.
- I hold classes every day, Monday through Friday.
- Some classes are held online.
- Meetings for the United Nations are held in New York.
- Business people hold meetings in unusual places these days.
- A wedding can be held in a church or other house of worship, or it can be held outside.
Notice that the passive voice is often used for this verb: (be) held. is held, are held, was held, will be held, etc.
- They’re holding a meeting.
- They held their wedding outside.
c. The word "hold" can be used as a noun.
When “hold” is a noun, it means that something has stopped or it is prevented from leaving.
- The company has put a hold on all new hiring.
- We put a hold on our mail. (We asked the post office to hold onto it because we are on vacation.)
- There’s a hold on your account. (Something is wrong with the account, so no new activity is permitted.)
- The police officer put the suspect in a choke hold. (He grabbed the suspect by the neck to detain him.)
- You really need to have a hold on reality in order to navigate this world. (hold on reality = to understand what is possible or real)
- I’m sorry. Your credit card company put a hold on your account.
- You can’t use your credit card until the hold is lifted.
- She doesn’t really have a hold on reality.
d. expressions that use "hold"
The word “hold” shows up in many short expressions and phrasal verbs.
- Hold up! (Stop.)
- Hold on!. (Be careful. This might be dangerous.)
- He’s holding out for more money. (He wants more money.)
- What’s the hold up? (Why are we waiting so long?)
- That store was held up last night. (hold up = steal at the point of a gun.)
- Roger is holding onto the past. (hold onto the past = think about or live in the past)
- She likes to hold onto the past.
- She enjoys holding onto the past.
- Workers at that company are holding out for more money.
- They’re holding a strike.