hold · v
hold your breath
B2 to keep air in your lungs and not let it out
Dictionary examples:
How long can you hold your breath under water? (25.1)
hold (JOB)
C1 to have a particular job, position, diploma, etc.
Dictionary examples:
He currently holds the position of managing editor. (38.0)
hold your breath
C2 to wait for something to happen, often feeling anxious
Dictionary examples:
While the leaders negotiated, the world held its breath. (44.3)
hold your own
C2 to be as successful as other people or things
Dictionary examples:
Alison could always hold her own in political debates. (30.9)
hold (COMPETITION)
B2 to have a particular position in a competition
Dictionary examples:
to hold the world record (16.0)
The team held the lead until the 89th minute. (65.7)
hold an opinion/belief/view
C1 to believe something
Dictionary examples:
He holds unpopular views on many subjects. (31.1)
hold a conversation
C1 to have a conversation
Dictionary examples:
I can just about hold a conversation in Italian. (38.6)
hold sb's attention/interest
C1 to keep someone interested in something
Dictionary examples:
The movie held my attention from beginning to end. (19.7)
not hold water
C2 If you say that an argument doesn't hold water, you mean that it can't be true.
Dictionary examples:
The jury convicted her because her story just didn’t hold water. (60.6)
hold (IN HAND)
A2 to have something in your hand or arms
Dictionary examples:
She held her textbook upside down, pretending to read. (0.0)
He held his shoe to his ear, waiting for a call. (0.0)
He held a banana like a phone, talking to it. (0.0)
He was holding a glass of wine. (11.1)
They were holding hands and kissing. (14.5)
She held the baby in her arms. (24.7)
Can you hold the bag while I open the door? (26.2)
hold (CONTAIN)
B1 to contain or be able to contain something
Dictionary examples:
My phone can hold a thousand selfies, but not one good photo. (0.0)
My stomach can hold five pizzas, but my wallet can't. (0.0)
My brain holds useless facts better than important information for exams. (0.0)
Don't pack more than one suitcase will hold. (19.1)
Computers can hold huge amounts of information. (52.3)
This pitcher holds up to two quarts. (81.2)
hold (KEEP IN POSITION)
B1 to keep something in a particular position
Dictionary examples:
She tried to hold her smile during the boring meeting. (0.0)
He tried to hold his sneeze during the quiet exam. (0.0)
Can you hold this balloon? It keeps trying to escape! (0.0)
Hold your hand up if you know the answer. (15.6)
Can you hold the door open, please? (39.1)
hold (ORGANIZE)
B1 to organize an event
Dictionary examples:
They held a 'Most Creative Excuse for Being Late' competition at work. (0.0)
The gym held a 'Slowest Runner' race, and everyone won. (0.0)
The restaurant held a 'Cook Your Own Meal' night, and the fire department came. (0.0)
to hold talks/an election (22.9)
A music festival is held there in July. (26.3)
hold (PRISONER)
B2 to keep someone in a place so that they cannot leave
Dictionary examples:
I was held prisoner in a tiny attic room. (46.1)
The terrorists held him hostage for 18 months. (56.5)