hold
gb/hˈoʊld/ us/hˈoʊld/
A1
English
~ 2600
fog, tart, fogva tart, megrendez, fenntart, vall, raktér, hajóraktér
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to hold [something]
She held the book tightly as she read.
Olvasás közben szorosan fogta a könyvet.
Can you hold my bag for a moment?
Meg tudnád fogni egy pillanatra a táskámat?
He held the umbrella over both of them.
The child held her mother’s hand while crossing the street.
Learner examples
I hold a pen in my hand.
Tollat fogok a kezemben.
Please hold this bag.
Kérlek, fogd meg ezt a táskát.
She holds the baby.
He holds my hand.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hold' with 'carry'; 'hold' means to keep in the hands, while 'carry' means to take something from one place to another.
Meaning
Keep in the hands
Collocations
hold a baby
|hold a cup
|hold hands
|hold a book
|hold a phone
Synonyms
grip (Implies a firmer or tighter hold than 'hold'.)
Antonyms
release (Means to let go of something being held.)
Themes
daily life
|physical actions
|daily_life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To have something in your hands or arms and not let it go.
To have and keep physical control of something by using your hands or arms.
VERB
A2
2
tart
A1
fogva tart
B2
Usage pattern:
to hold [someone/something] [somewhere/in a state]
The police are holding the suspect at the station.
A rendőrség a rendőrőrsön tartja fogva a gyanúsítottat.
Please hold the door open for me.
Kérlek, tartsd nyitva nekem az ajtót.
She held her breath until the doctor finished.
Learner examples
The man holds the dog inside the house.
A férfi bent tartja a kutyát a házban.
Please hold the door for me.
Kérlek, tartsd nyitva nekem az ajtót.
They hold the meeting in this room.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with 'keep' — 'hold' often implies physical or active maintenance, not just possession.
Meaning
Keep in place or state
Collocations
hold a meeting
|hold someone prisoner
|hold in place
|hold steady
Synonyms
retain (More formal; often used for keeping possession or maintaining a state.)
Antonyms
release (Means to set free from a place or state.)
Themes
control
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To keep someone or something where it is, or how it is.
To cause someone or something to remain in a specific place, position, or condition.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to hold [an event]
The company will hold its annual meeting next week.
A cég a jövő héten tartja az éves értekezletét.
They held a charity concert for the victims.
Jótékonysági koncertet tartottak az áldozatok megsegítésére.
We are holding interviews today for the new position.
Learner examples
We hold a meeting every Monday.
Minden hétfőn megbeszélést tartunk.
They hold a big party in summer.
Nyáron nagy bulit tartanak.
The school holds sports day in June.
Meaning
Organize and conduct event
Collocations
hold a party
|hold elections
|hold talks
|hold a conference
Synonyms
host ('Host' emphasizes receiving guests; 'hold' emphasizes organizing or conducting.)
Antonyms
cancel (Means to call off a planned event.)
Themes
events
|business
|work
|communication
Definition
To have and run an event like a meeting, party, or competition.
To arrange for an event, meeting, or activity to take place and manage it.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to hold [position/opinion]
The soldiers held their ground despite heavy fire.
A katonák az erős ellenséges tűz ellenére is tartották az állásaikat.
She holds strong beliefs about education.
Határozott nézeteket vall az oktatásról.
Hold this position for 30 seconds during the exercise.
Learner examples
I hold my opinion on this topic.
Fenntartom a véleményemet ebben a témában.
They hold their place in the game.
Tartják a helyüket a játékban.
Please hold still for the photo.
Meaning
Maintain position or condition
Collocations
hold steady
|hold firm
|hold your ground
Synonyms
maintain ('Maintain' is more formal and broad; 'hold' can be more immediate or physical.)
Antonyms
yield (Means to give way or change position/opinion.)
Themes
sports
|opinions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stay in the same position or keep the same opinion.
To keep a particular position, state, or opinion without changing it.
NOUN
B2
5
raktér
B1
hajóraktér
B2
The crates were stored in the ship’s hold.
A ládákat a hajó rakterében tárolták.
Water leaked into the cargo hold during the storm.
A vihar alatt víz szivárgott a raktérbe.
They loaded the goods into the forward hold.
Learner examples
The ship has a big cargo hold.
A hajónak nagy raktere van.
Boxes are in the hold of the ship.
A dobozok a hajó rakterében vannak.
We put food in the ship’s hold.
Meaning
Ship's cargo area
Collocations
cargo hold
|ship's hold
Synonyms
storage area (General term; not specific to ships.)
Themes
transportation
|travel
Definition
A large space inside a ship where things are stored.
A space in the lower part of a ship used for carrying goods.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hold
IPA
GB/hˈoʊld/
US/hˈoʊld/
Syllables & stress
hold (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hold)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hold
- Plural: hold, holds
Verb
- Base: hold
- 3rd Person Singular: holds
- Present Participle: holding
- Past: held
- Past Participle: held
Word family
Forms
holds
noun
holding
verb
held
verb
Core family
holder
noun A2
Highlights
- Irregular past: held Verb
- Irregular past participle: held Verb
Expressions
get hold of
1/ɡˈɛt hˈoʊld əv/
fixed phrase
Obtain or contact someone/something
To find and have something, or to talk to someone when you need them.
Examples
- I finally got hold of that book you wanted.
- I can’t get hold of Jane — her phone is off.
hold it against someone
1/hˈoʊld ˈɪt əɡˈɛnst sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
Keep a grudge for past action
To not forgive someone because of what they did before.
Examples
- I made a mistake, but I hope you won’t hold it against me.
- He still holds it against her that she left him.
hold on
1/hˈoʊld ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Wait briefly
To wait for a short time without doing anything else.
Examples
- Hold on, I’ll be ready in just a minute.
- Can you hold on while I find your file?
hold up
1/hˈoʊld ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Delay progress
To make something or someone slow down or stop moving forward.
Examples
- Traffic was held up by an accident.
- Sorry I’m late — I was held up at work.
hold your breath
1/hˈoʊld jˈʊɹ bɹˈɛθ/
idiom
Stop breathing briefly / wait expectantly
To stop breathing for a short time, or to wait for something with excitement or fear.
Examples
- She held her breath as she opened the letter.
- Don’t hold your breath waiting for him to call back.