hold

organize or be responsible for

• “hold a reception”
• “have, throw, or make a party”
• “give a course”

keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"

• “hold in place”
• “She always held herself as a lady”
• “The students keep me on my toes”

have or hold in one''s hands or grip

• “Hold this bowl for a moment, please”
• “A crazy idea took hold of him”

to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement

• “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”

pay off (loans or promissory notes)

have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

• “She has $1,000 in the bank”
• “He has got two beautiful daughters”
• “She holds a Master”

keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

• “take for granted”
• “view as important”
• “hold these truths to be self-evident”
• “I hold him personally responsible”

contain or hold; have within

• “The jar carries wine”
• “The canteen holds fresh water”
• “This can contains water”

lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

• “moderate your alcohol intake”
• “hold your tongue”
• “hold your temper”
• “control your anger”

remain in a certain state, position, or condition

• “The weather held”
• “They held on the road and kept marching”

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

• “bear a grudge”
• “entertain interesting notions”
• “harbor a resentment”

assert or affirm

• “Rousseau”

remain committed to

• “I hold to these ideas”

secure and keep for possible future use or application

• “The landlord retained the security deposit”
• “I reserve the right to disagree”

be the physical support of; carry the weight of

• “The beam holds up the roof”
• “He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam”
• “What”

hold the attention of

• “The soprano held the audience”
• “This story held our interest”
• “She can hold an audience spellbound”

keep from exhaling or expelling

• “hold your breath”

support or hold in a certain manner

• “She holds her head high”
• “He carried himself upright”

have room for; hold without crowding

• “This hotel can accommodate 250 guests”
• “The theater admits 300 people”
• “The auditorium can”

be capable of holding or containing

• “This box won”
• “;”

be valid, applicable, or true

• “This theory still holds”

take and maintain control over, often by violent means

• “The dissatisfied students held the President”

protect against a challenge or attack

• “Hold that position behind the trees!”
• “Hold the bridge against the enemy”

declare to be

• “She was declared incompetent”
• “judge held that the defendant was innocent”

have as a major characteristic

• “The novel holds many surprises”
• “The book holds in store much valuable advise”

cause to stop

• “Halt the engines”
• “Arrest the progress”
• “halt the presses”

bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

• “He”
• “;”
• “ll hold you by your promise”

cover as for protection against noise or smell

• “She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate”
• “hold one”

drink alcohol without showing ill effects

• “He can hold his liquor”
• “he had drunk more than he could carry”

be pertinent or relevant or applicable

• “The same laws apply to you!”
• “This theory holds for all irrational numbers”
• “The same rules go for everyone”

arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance

• “reserve me a seat on a flight”
• “The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family”
• “please hold a table at Maxim”

resist or confront with resistance

• “The politician defied public opinion”
• “The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear”
• “The bridge held”

keep from departing

• “Hold the taxi”
• “Hold the horse”

stop dealing with

• “hold all calls to the President”

aim, point, or direct

• “Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames”

be in accord; be in agreement

• “We agreed on the terms of the settlement”
• “I can”
• “;”
• “;”

the act of grasping

• “he released his clasp on my arm”
• “he has a strong grip for an old man”
• “she kept a firm hold on the railing”

understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

• “he has a good grasp of accounting practices”

power by which something or someone is affected or dominated

• “he has a hold over them”

time during which some action is awaited

• “instant replay caused too long a delay”
• “he ordered a hold in the action”

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

• “his detention was politically motivated”
• “the prisoner is on hold”
• “he is in the custody of police”

a stronghold

a cell in a jail or prison

the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

• “he grabbed the hammer by the handle”
• “it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip”

the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo