To hold means to keep something in your hands or arms; or to organise and conduct an event. Past tense and past participle: held.
What Does Hold Mean?
Hold comes from Old English haldan, meaning to grasp, keep, or retain. It is related to German halten and Dutch houden, and has been part of the English language since before the 12th century. Over time it expanded far beyond its original physical meaning.
In modern English, hold is used in two main ways. The first is physical: to grip or support something with your hands or arms — Hold the rope tightly. The second is organisational: to conduct or stage an event — The school holds a sports day every June. Beyond these core meanings, hold appears in dozens of fixed expressions, phrasal verbs, and idioms, making it one of the highest-frequency verbs in the language.
As a noun, hold means a firm grip (She kept a hold on the railing), influence over someone (The cult had a powerful hold over its members), or the cargo storage area of a ship or aircraft.
Example Sentences (A2–C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| Please hold the door open for me. | A2 — physical grip, imperative |
| She held her son's hand as they crossed the road. | A2/B1 — past tense, physical action |
| The government plans to hold a referendum next year. | B1 — organise an event, formal/news register |
| Can you hold the line? I'll transfer you to the right department. | B2 — fixed expression, telephone English |
| Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to hold its market position. | C1 — maintain/retain a position, business/formal register |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning & example |
|---|---|
| hold a meeting | to organise and conduct a meeting — We hold a team meeting every Monday morning. |
| hold your breath | to stop breathing temporarily — She held her breath and dived under the water. |
| hold a grudge | to remain angry with someone for a long time — He held a grudge against his former colleague for years. |
| hold the line | to wait on the telephone; or to maintain a position — Please hold the line while I check. |
| hold talks | to conduct formal discussions — The two leaders held talks in Brussels. |
| hold office | to occupy a position of authority — She held office for twelve years. |
| hold someone accountable | to make someone responsible for their actions — The board held the CEO accountable for the losses. |
| hold your own | to perform competently against stronger opposition — Despite being the youngest player, she held her own. |
Usage Notes
Formal vs Informal
Formal In formal and professional contexts, hold is the standard verb for conducting events: hold a conference, hold an inquiry, hold elections. It is widely used in journalism, law, and business writing.
Informal In everyday speech, hold on is extremely common as a way of asking someone to wait: Hold on, I'll just grab my keys. The idioms hold your horses and hold it are similarly informal.
Neutral The physical meaning — to grip or carry in your hands — is neutral across all registers: suitable in children's books, academic writing, and business emails alike.
British English Notes
In British English, hold is often used where American English might prefer keep in certain fixed phrases: British hold the fort vs American hold down the fort. Both are widely understood in either variety.
Grammar: Irregular Verb
Hold is an irregular verb. Do not write holded — this is a very common learner error. The correct forms are: hold (base) → held (past simple) → held (past participle).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
We holded a meeting last Tuesday.
We held a meeting last Tuesday. (hold is irregular — past tense is held, not holded)
She is holding a strong opinion about this.
She holds a strong opinion about this. (stative verbs like hold [= believe/possess] are not normally used in the continuous)