behold

verb

be·​hold bi-ˈhōld 

bē-

beheld bi-ˈheld 

bē-

; beholding

transitive verb

1

: to perceive through sight or apprehension : see

2

: to gaze upon : observe

It was a pleasure to behold the beauty of the sunset.

The enormous crowd was a sight to behold.

intransitive verb

—used in the imperative especially to call attention

beholder noun

Synonyms

• appreciate
• apprehend
• assimilate
• catch
• catch on (to)
• cognize
• compass
• comprehend
• conceive
• cotton (to or on to)
• decipher
• decode
• dig
• discern
• get
• grasp
• grok
• intuit
• know
• make
• make out
• perceive
• recognize
• register
• savvy
• see
• seize
• sense
• tumble (to)
• twig
• understand

Examples of behold in a Sentence

Those who have beheld the beauty of the desert never forget it.

to anyone who beholds the immense complexity of life on earth

Recent Examples on the Web

Watching the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Grey’s Anatomy fully commit to one another is a beautiful thing to behold. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 May 2025

Unstable in legibility, the words ask that the painting be both read and beheld. —Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025

The deification of our jazz dead is stunning to behold that way. —Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Few of us have beheld a living wonder than the revival of Catholic-Jewish collaboration from nearly two millennia of death and destruction. —Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to keep, behold, from Old English behealdan, from be- + healdan to hold

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing behold

• a sight to see/behold
• a sight/wonder to behold
• lo and behold

Rhymes for behold

• ahold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled
• fivefold

Kids Definition

behold

verb

be·​hold bi-ˈhōld 

beheld -ˌheld  ; beholding

: to look upon : see

beholder noun