hold down

verb

held down; holding down; holds down
Synonyms of hold downnext

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

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.
For a decade, Lil Pete has been holding down the Bay Area with sensitive, post-Jacka mood music. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026 Wind storms would come up, and people are having to hold down the lights. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 June 2026 Orange County Fire Authority officials worked with the company and other experts to come up with a solution while using an unmanned ground hose to spray water on the tank to hold down the temperature. Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Depression, anxiety, and trauma are often compounded by the stress of making ends meet, putting food on the table, holding down a job in an unstable economy, and trying to create stability for children with limited resources. Jennifer Stolo, Washington Post, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold down

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20down. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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