v. 1
To grasp or grip.
Hold the pencil like this.
v. 2
To maintain or keep to a position or state. Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.
v. 3
To take place, to occur.
n. 1
A grasp or grip.
Keep a firm hold on the handlebars.

Related words

Word family: holdback holder holdfast holding hold-up
Phrases: hold on hold-up hold out hold back hold fast hold down hold in hold over

Forms

Plural: holds → handles, waits, hold-ups…

Choose the right word

Hold, Have or Holds?

To hold is to have in one's hand, or securely in one's control; a man holds his friend's coat for a moment, or he holds a struggling horse; he holds a promissory note, or holds an office.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

grip The dictator rules the country with an iron grip.
grasp I was able to grasp the main points of the speech.
seize You have to seize the opportunity with both hands.
cling I do not cling to life sufficiently to fear death.
keep The cold weather may keep the plants from budding.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
hold		steady
grip		rising
grasp		rising
seize		steady
cling		rising
keep		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: own¹
4 letters: have¹, make¹, take¹, last¹, find¹, keep¹, stop¹, stay¹, wait¹, save¹, pass¹, bear¹, fill¹, grab¹
5 letters: think¹, power², stand¹, judge¹, carry², stick¹, apply², grasp¹, seize¹, cling¹, clasp¹
6 letters: remain², handle², regard², retain², resist², clutch¹, occupy³, esteem², endure², adhere², clinch¹
7 letters: believe², support², account², receive², reserve², embrace², possess², sustain², refrain², persist²
8 letters: interest², continue³, consider³, maintain², withhold², restrain²

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (power² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: tenir
Italiano: tenere
Deutsch: halten