Held
held
Definitions
2 meaningsTo have and maintain possession of; to grasp or keep firmly; to restrain; to conduct or have a meeting or event.
held
Past tense and past participle of 'hold'
He held the door open for her.
💡 Simply: Held means you kept something in your hand or kept something going. Like, you held your mom's hand, or the school held a party.
👶 For kids: When you *held* something, you were keeping it in your hands, like a toy!
More Examples
The conference was held in London.
She held her breath, waiting for the results.
How It's Used
"She held the baby gently."
"The company held a meeting to discuss the merger."
"He held the ball firmly."
To believe; to consider; to maintain a specific viewpoint.
held
Past tense and past participle of 'hold' (believing or considering)
The jury held the defendant guilty.
💡 Simply: Held can also mean you thought or believed something. Like, 'I held the opinion that pizza is the best food!'
👶 For kids: When you *held* an idea, you thought it was true.
More Examples
She held that the new law was unconstitutional.
Many scientists held the view that climate change was a serious threat.
How It's Used
"I held the opinion that the project would succeed."
"The court held that the evidence was inadmissible."
Idioms & expressions
hold your horses
To be patient; wait a moment.
"Hold your horses! We haven't finished preparing the food yet."
hold up
To rob someone, often with a weapon.
"The bank was held up yesterday."
hold on
To wait, typically on the phone or in a situation.
"Hold on a second, I'll be right there."
From Middle English *helden*, past tense of *holden* (to hold), from Old English *heold*, past tense of *haldan* (to hold).
Used extensively in both formal and informal texts throughout history, signifying possession, restraint, or the conduct of events.
Memory tip
Think of someone holding a balloon – they are holding onto it, possessing it, and keeping it from floating away.
Word Origin
"to hold, grasp, keep"