To hold meaning in English
Learn how to use To hold correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to hold (something): to have, to keep (something) in one's hand usually temporarily
Please hold my hand, I'm scared.
This is an irregular verb:
I hold / I held / I have held
to hold a position: to occupy, to have a position or role
Bruno has held the position of CEO at the Delavigne Corp. for over 25 years.
to hold a conversation to have a conversation, to talk
to hold a meeting to have a meeting
Hold the phone! Stop! Wait a minute
hold the line Don't hang up, don't put down the telephone
to hold a meeting to have a meeting
Hold the phone! Stop! Wait a minute
hold the line Don't hang up, don't put down the telephone
(The competition is) being held (in Australia): (The competition) is happening, is taking place, is organized (in Australia)
Pronunciation examples
UK: I am too drunk to hold a conversation.
US: Please hold my hand, I'm scared.
Examples
- "Further to our conversation, here is a brief summary of the current policy you hold with Ouch Insurance."
- "Why don't you hold hands?"
- "I am writing on behalf of the Delavigne Corporation, where I currently hold the position of Director of Sales."
- "I have held this position for more than ten years, but am just now taking over your account from Luke Gabriels, who has moved on to other challenges in this industry."
- "After six months of record sales, Philip was awarded the position of Director, which he held ever since."
- "Wow, I'm holding an E-Phone!"
- "Let's hold hands."
- "Edward : They can wave to a friend or hold power tools."
- "There I held the position of Director of Human Resources."
- "He had asked if I could hold a bottle of benzyl acetate for a moment, and I hadn't access to my pad."
- "And where are the Olympic games being held this year, Lotsa?"
- "(A handkerchief held in front of the mouth and nose would work out at just 40 cents per unit."
- "If you turn off your light, I'll hold your hand."
Exercise 1
Jean wants to hold hands with Kevin.
From the list below, select the sentences which use the verb "hold" correctly.
There may be more than one!
From the list below, select the sentences which use the verb "hold" correctly.
There may be more than one!
Jean wants to hold hands with Kevin.
From the list below, select the sentences which use the verb "hold" correctly.
There may be more than one!
From the list below, select the sentences which use the verb "hold" correctly.
There may be more than one!
This sentence uses the term "hold" correctly. "Hold the line" is a common request to a caller to wait, either for the call to be transferred or for the party come to the phone. This is not the same use of "hold" as in the dialogue, but a common one nonetheless.
The verb "to hold" is irregular and can't be conjugated as "holded" in any tense. To hold: hold/held/held. The correct sentence should read: There was no room on the table, so I HELD the platter in my hands. If phrased correctly, this sentence expresses the principal sense of the verb "to hold": to physically carry something (with the hands usually).
This sentence uses the verb "to hold" correctly. "To hold the door" is to keep it open, usually to help a person following you. The verb "hold" is irregular: hold/held/held.
This sentence uses the verb "to hold" correctly. "To hold (an event)" is an term which describes "having" or even "organizing" an event. The expression is often used with a location to describe where the event is taking place: The party will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Note that only certain events can be "held" (meetings, conferences, events, dinners, etc.) while other activities (such as phone calls, movies, or speeches) cannot.
The verb "to hold" is never used in this way. A correct way of expressing this idea would be: "A man hung my jacket in the closet", which would indicate that a man "put" the jacket in a closet.
Exercise 2
Song Time!
Fill in the blanks with words from Edward's song.
Look at your , they're such tools,
They can to a friend, or power tools...
Fill in the blanks with words from Edward's song.
Look at your , they're such tools,
They can to a friend, or power tools...
Song Time!
Fill in the blanks with words from Edward's song.
Look at your hands 1, they're such useful 2 tools,
They can wave 3 to a friend, or hold 4 power tools...
Fill in the blanks with words from Edward's song.
Look at your hands 1, they're such useful 2 tools,
They can wave 3 to a friend, or hold 4 power tools...
1 hands: A "hand" describes the palm and five fingers at the end of the arm. Hands are, as Edward says, "very useful tools". The hand can be used to write, draw, eat, paint etc.
2 useful: A "useful (tool)" is one which is "helpful", "practical", or "utile". In his song, Edward calls "hands" very "useful" tools. Example: "The University Careers Service gave me some useful information when I was looking for a job". Note that when "full" is used as a suffix, it is written "-ful". Some more examples: wonderful, grateful, helpful.
3 wave: To "wave (your hand")" is to make a sign or gesture with your hand, often as a greeting or a sign of departure. For example, we "wave" our hands to say hello and goodbye. In his song, Edward sings that hands can be used to 'wave" to a friend.
4 hold: To "hold" in this sense, is to physically carry something, with the hands usually. In his song, Edward sings that hands can be used to "hold power tools". "Power tools" are electronic tools such as "drills", "sanders", "saws", etc.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'To hold'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
