hold-down

1 of 2

noun

1
: something used to fasten an object in place
2
a
: an act of holding down
b
: limit
agreed to wage-rate hold-downs

hold down

2 of 2

verb

held down; holding down; holds down

transitive verb

1
: to keep within limits
hold the noise down
2
: to assume or have responsibility for
holding down two jobs

Examples of hold-down in a Sentence

Verb efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
These hold-down test-firings are typically one of the final milestones in a Starship launch campaign before SpaceX moves the rocket to the launch pad. ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025 Then, 12 hold-down bolts fired and freed the Delta IV Heavy for its climb into space with a top-secret payload for the US government's spy satellite agency. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
For a while, companies might try to hold down their prices. Steve Inskeep, NPR, 14 July 2025 The bill, which is the centerpiece of President Donald Trump's domestic policy, introduces some new financial commitments for states that fail to hold down erroneous payments. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold-down

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold-down was in 1533

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold-down. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!