past form and past participle
Kept someone or something in your hands or arms.
She held the baby carefully.
He held my hand on the walk.
American English
How to pronounce held
verbB1Very common word
HEHLD
/hɛld̚/
One syllable.
Form of hold
Held is both the past form and the past participle of hold.
Kept someone or something in your hands or arms.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
past form and past participle
Kept someone or something in a particular position or state, often so it did not move or fall.
He held the door open for her.
She held the picture straight.
past form and past participle
Had enough space for a particular amount or number.
The bottle held two liters.
The room held a hundred people.
Good to know
The container or place is the subject of this use.
past form and past participle
Organized and carried out an event, meeting, election, or vote.
The team held a meeting after lunch.
The city held an election in May.
Useful expressions
to wait for a short time
Hold on a minute; I need my keys.
to keep something and not lose or give it away
Hold on to your ticket until the end.
waiting or temporarily stopped, especially on a telephone call or in a process
Your request is on hold.
Related words & forms
Held is both the past form and the past participle of hold.