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“Hold” or “Holed”

hold / holed are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

hold hh·OW·l·d

  • nounpower by which something or someone is affected or dominated.
  • nouna stronghold.
  • nouna cell in a jail or prison.
  • verbhave or hold in one's hands or grip.
  • verborganize or be responsible for.
  • verbbe the physical support of; carry the weight of.
  • verbcontain or hold; have within.
  • verbremain in a certain state, position, or condition.
  • verbsupport or hold in a certain manner.
  • verbassert or affirm.
  • verbhave as a major characteristic.
  • verbhold the attention of.
  • verbremain committed to.
  • verbstop dealing with.
  • verbkeep from departing.
  • verbtake and maintain control over, often by violent means.
  • verbcover as for protection against noise or smell.
  • verbaim, point, or direct.
  • verbkeep from exhaling or expelling.

holed hh·OW·l·d

  • verbhit the ball into the hole.
  • verbmake holes in.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“hold”

  • …distinguishes them from adverbs, which hold a more flexible position in
  • There are two houses that hold devices known as "traps" that…
  • …as there are teeth to hold them.
  • …he saw it imperative to hold up the enemy as long…
  • Hold Still was a finalist for…
  • …all teeth, so it will hold any matrix (but not the…
  • Mann's ninth book, Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs,…
  • They were planning to hold a civil ceremony in the…
  • …in that it does not hold that people experience a "negative…
  • …used as a handle to hold the ice pop.

“holed”

  • …group of survivors who are holed up in a secluded valley…
  • Holed below the waterline, the letter…
  • While waiting, holed up in a farmhouse where…
  • …down the middle and then holed a niblick from more than…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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