American English
/hoʊld̚/
One syllable.
to keep someone or something in your hands or arms
Practice out loudto keep someone or something in your hands or arms
She held the baby carefully.
He held my hand on the walk.
hold someone's hand · hold a baby · hold a glass · hold hands
hold + object/person
hold + object/person + in + your arms
to keep someone or something in a particular position or state, often so it does not move or fall
Please hold the door open.
This clip holds the papers together.
hold the door open · hold something steady · hold something in place · hold your breath
hold + object/person + adjective
hold + object/person + in + place
to have enough space for a particular amount or number
This bottle holds two liters.
The room can hold hundred people.
The container is the subject of this use.
hold water · hold a lot of people · hold a large amount
container + hold + amount
place + hold + number + of + plural noun
to organize and carry out an event, meeting, election, or vote
The school will hold a meeting tonight.
The city held an election in May.
hold a meeting · hold an election · hold a conference · hold a vote
hold + event/meeting
hold + event/meeting + at/in + place
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.
Held is both the past form and the past participle of hold.