hold-down

1 of 2

noun

ˈhōl(d)-ˌdau̇n 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• cap
• circumscribe
• confine
• limit
• restrict

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

Noun

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

SpaceX tested the water deluge system several times since April, including on a pair of hold-down engine tests with the Super Heavy booster in August. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023

Verb

Souper climbs on top and holds a pillow to his face, while Ven straddles Jeff and tries to hold down his legs. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 June 2025

More news: Dodgers Pitcher Elects to Leave Organization, Head to Free Agency Betts wasn't able to hold down solid foods, and ended up missing both games in Japan to open the season. —Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hold-down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown