holding

1 of 3

noun

hold·​ing ˈhōl-diŋ How to pronounce holding (audio)
Synonyms of holdingnext
1
a
: land held especially by a vassal or tenant
b
: property (such as land or securities) owned
—usually 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 3

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

holding

3 of 3

present participle of hold entry 1

Synonyms of holding

Relevance

Noun

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Active managers can also adjust strike prices, expiration dates and the proportion of each holding covered by options as market conditions shift. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 By contrast, many younger Americans have yet to invest, and those who have tend to skew their holdings toward stocks more sensitive to higher rates. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Hands are shown holding objects, sourced from nearby cultural institutions. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026 Inspectors observed several critical violations, including improper cold and hot holding temperatures, unsafe food storage, and inadequate handwashing and glove practices, city officials said. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for holding

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of holding was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing holding

Rhymes for holding

See All Rhymes for holding

Browse Nearby Words

hold in
holding
holding attack
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Cite this Entry

“Holding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holding. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
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