Hold one's tongue — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Related Entry: Hold (verb)

Hold is a different word from Hold one's tongue. The synonyms below are for hold, not for hold one's tongue.

1. to have or keep in one's hands

   "this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder"

   similar: clench, cling (to), clutch, grip, hang on to, hold on to
   related: bear, carry, bag, capture, catch, collar, corral, grab, grapple, hook, land, latch (on or onto), nab, nail, seize, snap (up), snare, snatch, take, trap, feel, finger, handle, paw, clasp, embrace, grasp, hug, cradle
   near: drop, give, hand, unclasp, unhand, cede, deliver, give up, hand out, hand over, release, relinquish, render, turn over, yield

2. to continue to have in one's possession or power

   "she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest"

   similar: keep, reserve, retain, withhold, hang on to, hold on to
   related: conserve, guard, preserve, protect, save, boast, enjoy, have, own, possess, command, control, detain, direct, manage, rule, bear, harbor, cherish, cling (to), hug, treasure
   opposite: give up, hand over, release, relinquish, surrender, yield
   near: abandon, cede, drop, contribute, donate, give, hand out, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, lose

3. to have as an opinion

   "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"

   similar: allow (chiefly Southern & Midland), believe, conceive, consider, deem, esteem, feel, figure, guess, imagine, judge, reckon (chiefly dialect), suppose, think
   related: regard, view, accept, perceive, depend, rely, trust, assume, presume, presuppose, surmise, conclude, deduce, infer
   near: distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, suspect, disbelieve, discredit, reject

4. to have within

   "the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions"

   similar: bear, boast, contain
   related: accommodate, fit, take, case, encase, enclose, encompass, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

5. to keep in one's mind or heart

   "still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted"

   similar: bear, cherish, entertain, harbor, have, nurse, hang on to, hold on to
   related: cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain, carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure, cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to), brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)
   near: disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn, abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out, erase, expunge

6. to keep, control, or experience as one's own

   "the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years"

   similar: command, enjoy, have, own, possess, retain, rejoice in
   related: keep, reserve, withhold, bear, carry, boast, show off, sport
   opposite: lack, want
   near: abandon, cede, disclaim, disown, hand over, relinquish, renounce, surrender, yield, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, need, require

7. to make or have room for

   "the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people"

   similar: accommodate, fit, take
   related: carry, contain, seat, enclose, encompass, enfold, harbor, house

8. to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms

   "please hold my arm on these slippery stairs"

   similar: clasp, grasp, grip, take, hang on to, lay hold of
   related: clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to), catch, nab, seize, snatch
   near: discharge, drop, free, liberate, release, deliver, entrust, give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand

9. to think of in a particular way

   "held to be the best blueberry pies in the state"

   similar: account, call, consider, count, esteem, look (on or upon), rate, reckon, regard, set down, view, take for
   related: believe, deem, feel, sense, think, conceive, fancy, imagine

10. to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

    "we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside"

    "hold your temper until you hear the whole story"

    similar: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame
    related: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow, arrest, interrupt, stop, block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct, gag, muzzle, silence
    opposite: lose
    near: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

11. to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

    "held the camera on the actor throughout the scene"

    similar: aim, bend, cast, direct, head, level, pinpoint, set, train
    related: sight, bear, face, concentrate, focus, incline, orient, steer
    near: avert, curve, deflect, detour, divert, rechannel, shunt, sidetrack