take hold

idiomatic phrase

1
: to grasp, grip, or seize something
took hold and hung on tight
often used with of
take hold of the railing… she took hold of his arm with both her hands, and looked up eagerly—oh, with such terrible eagerness!—into his face.Anthony Trollope
often used figuratively
As word of the subpoenas spread … confusion and hysteria took hold of the social set …Bob ColacelloI did not want Merlin to retire from the job until I was ready to take hold of it effectively myself …Mark Twain
2
: to become effective, established, or popular
The change in the law has not yet taken hold.
… a swath of land that has been spared from lava flows long enough that rich vegetation has had a chance to take hold.G. Brad Lewis
… here in central California the French aesthetic has recently taken hold.Rebecca Coffey

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of take hold was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near take hold

Cite this Entry

“Take hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20hold. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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