verb · neutral
hold
UK/həʊld/US/hoʊld/HOLD
Band 6-7speakingtask2
to grasp, carry, or support with one's hands; to organise or keep something in a particular state
Examples
“Could you hold this bag for a moment?”
“The university holds an annual careers fair.”
“She has held that position for three years.”
Band 8 sentence
“During the panel discussion the moderator held the audience's attention by asking provocative, well-informed questions.”
Collocations
- hold a meeting/event
- hold someone’s hand
- hold up (delay)
- hold a record
Word family
hold verb (base)holds verb (3rd sing.)held verb (past simple & past participle)holding verb (gerund/participle), nounholder noun
Common mistakes
holded→held
have hold→have held
Say it for a higher band
5keep→6carry→7+hold
Synonyms
grip
organise (an event)
Easily confused
keep
“Please keep this document in your folder for now.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Irregular forms
Learn it with its set