holding

1 of 2

noun

hold·​ing ˈhōl-diŋ 

1

a

: land held especially by a vassal or tenant

b

: property (such as land or securities) owned

—usually used in plural

2

: a ruling of a court especially on an issue of law raised in a case compare dictum

3

: something that holds

holding

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the effect of holding back or delaying something

the [war] represented a holding action against the spread of world Communism

—Sidney Offit

2

: intended for usually temporary storage or retention

a holding tank

Synonyms

Noun

• ruling
• sentence
• finding

Examples of holding in a Sentence

Noun

penalized 10 yards for holding

the holding of “not guilty” took everyone by surprise

Adjective

The troops were engaged in a holding action until reinforcements could arrive.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Showboat sales pitches and the holding of a federal office is a popular combo, and, in the realm of public health, a deadly one. —Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 27 June 2025

Concerns cited by more than three-quarters included technology theft, China's holdings of U.S. government debt, military buildup, advancements in artificial intelligence, and the potential to overtake the U.S. as the world's leading superpower. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Adjective

The process for netting capital gains first applies to gains and losses of the same holding period: long-term gains against long-term losses, and separately, short-term gains against short-term losses. —Kristin McKenna, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of lower cabinet storage which is often studier with more holding room. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holding

• hand-holding
• holding company
• holding pattern
• there's no holding him back

Rhymes for holding

• folding
• molding
• moulding
• scolding
• beholding
• enfolding
• landholding
• refolding
• shareholding
• slaveholding
• stockholding
• unfolding

Kids Definition

holding

noun

hold·​ing

ˈhōl-diŋ

1

: property (as land or stocks) owned

—usually used in plural

decided to sell her holdings

2

: a ruling of a court

Legal Definition

holding

1 of 2 noun

hold·​ing

1

: a ruling of a court upon an issue of law raised in a case : the pronouncement of law supported by the reasoning in a court's opinion compare decision, dictum, disposition, finding, judgment, opinion, ruling, verdict

2

: any property that is owned or possessed

—usually used in pl.

an increase in the company's holdings

holding

2 of 2 adjective

: intended for temporary custody or detention

a holding facility

a holding cell