hold court

phrase

: to be the center of attention among friends or admirers

Examples of hold court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The View cohosts are holding court over Judy Sheindlin’s controversial comments about unhappy Americans complaining about the United States government. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

Lange walked hand in hand with Lourd, weaving through the crowd and holding court. — Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2026

In the museum’s Skywalker Grill restaurant, Leonardo DiCaprio held court at a center table with Al Pacino, with Francis Ford Coppola and Jeffrey Katzenberg sitting nearby. — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

That's where the infamous Tubgaters held court with their traveling hot tub that is mounted on a trailer. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hold court

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• disport
• distort
• escort
• exhort