held: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (C1)Neutral, used across all registers.
Quick answer
What does “held” mean?
The past tense and past participle of 'hold,' meaning to have had something in one's grasp, possession, or control.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense and past participle of 'hold,' meaning to have had something in one's grasp, possession, or control.
To have had a position, status, or title; to have conducted an event; to have maintained a belief or opinion; to have been valid or in effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in form or core meaning. Minor variations in collocational frequency (e.g., 'held a meeting' vs. 'held a get-together').
Connotations
None specific to either variant.
Frequency
Equal frequency; a foundational verb form.
Grammar
How to Use “held” in a Sentence
[SBJ] held [OBJ][SBJ] held [OBJ] [ADJ] (e.g., held him responsible)[SBJ] held [OBJ] [PREP] [OBJ] (e.g., held the book in her hand)[PASSIVE] be held [PREP] (e.g., The meeting was held in May)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “held” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They held a garden party despite the drizzle.
- The suspect was held at the police station overnight.
American English
- He held a fundraiser at his ranch.
- The judge held him in contempt of court.
adjective
British English
- The held luggage area is on your left.
- This is a long-held tradition in our village.
American English
- Please proceed to the held items counter.
- It's a deeply held conviction for many.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The board meeting was held remotely.'
Academic
'He held the professorship from 1995 to 2010.'
Everyday
'She held the baby while I tied my shoes.'
Technical
'The clamp held the material securely during the test.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “held”
- *He holded the pen. (Incorrect: irregular past is 'held')
- Confusing 'held' (past) with 'hold' (present) in complex tenses.
- Using 'was hold' instead of 'was held' in passive voice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is both the simple past ('Yesterday I held it') and the past participle, used in perfect tenses and the passive voice ('It has been held', 'The event was held').
Yes, often in compound adjectives before a noun, e.g., 'a held belief', 'held stock', indicating something that is possessed or maintained.
'Holded' is incorrect. 'Hold' is an irregular verb: hold-held-held. 'Holded' is a common mistake by learners.
It is a standard, formal way to state that a meeting will take place or be organized, focusing on the fact of its occurrence rather than who is organizing it.
The past tense and past participle of 'hold,' meaning to have had something in one's grasp, possession, or control.
Held is usually neutral, used across all registers. in register.
Held: in British English it is pronounced /hɛld/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɛld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “held your tongue”
- “held your horses”
- “held the line”
- “held to ransom”
- “held water”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HELD: 'Have Everything Lasting in Duration' – it reminds you of keeping or possessing something for a period.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS HOLDING (He holds power), CONTROL IS HOLDING (She held her emotions), IDEAS ARE OBJECTS HELD (I hold that opinion).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The theory is no longer held to be valid,' what does 'held' mean?