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 Colacello
I 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

Examples of take hold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While inflation is well off highs reached in mid-2022, retail prices are still about 20% higher in most spending categories since runaway inflation took hold. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 Yes, but: Groups like the Knight Foundation see reasons for hope as newer journalism outlets take hold — some of which are increasingly funded by philanthropy. Jason Clayworth, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024 Jefferies downgrades Starbucks to underperform from hold Jefferies said the Starbucks CEO change will take time to take hold. Michael Bloom, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2024 Moist, soggy grass and moderate temperatures create the ideal environment for disease to take hold. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take hold 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take hold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 9 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on take hold

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