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hold to

hold to
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hohld too]
    • /hoʊld tu/
    • /həʊld tuː/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hohld too]
    • /hoʊld tu/

Definitions of hold to words

  • verb with object hold to to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his. 1
  • verb with object hold to to set aside; reserve or retain: to hold merchandise until called for; to hold a reservation. 1
  • verb with object hold to to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means. 1
  • verb with object hold to to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound. 1
  • verb with object hold to to detain: The police held him at the station house. 1
  • verb with object hold to to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of hold to

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English holden, Old English h(e)aldan; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Norse halda, Old Saxon, Gothic haldan, Old High German haltan (German halten)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hold to

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

hold to popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

hold to usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for hold to

verb hold to

  • prosecute — Law. to institute legal proceedings against (a person). to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process. to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.
  • practice — habitual or customary performance; operation: office practice.
  • continue — If someone or something continues to do something, they keep doing it and do not stop.
  • maintain — to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain: to maintain good relations with neighboring countries.
  • conduct — When you conduct an activity or task, you organize it and carry it out.

Antonyms for hold to

verb hold to

  • cease — If something ceases, it stops happening or existing.
  • retreat — the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action.
  • ignore — to refrain from noticing or recognizing: to ignore insulting remarks.
  • shun — to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution, etc.; take pains to avoid.
  • discontinue — to put an end to; stop; terminate: to discontinue nuclear testing.

See also

Matching words

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