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

Their holdings include controlling stakes in 11 teams from the NBA, eight from the NFL, five from Major League Soccer, four from the NHL, two from European men’s soccer and one each from MLB and the Women’s Super League, the highest level of English soccer. —Justin Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Indeed, after shedding retail and sport-lifestyle holdings, Kering was whittled down to a luxury pure player with revenues just north of 3 billion euros. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Here are some key considerations: Leverage shorter holding periods for greater flexibility. —Peyton Carr, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

That company imported 16 containers in the past two years, five holding display fireworks and 11 holding consumer fireworks, according to import records. —Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025

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