1
: having the effect of holding back or delaying something
the [war] represented a holding action against the spread of world Communism—
Sidney Offit
Sidney Offit2
: intended for usually temporary storage or retention
a holding tank
Synonyms
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
Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 5 Nov. 2024
In his first term, Trump jettisoned traditional norms around presidents walling off their personal interests and instead retained his business holdings — including a Washington, D.C., hotel where foreign leaders booked rooms.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
Bryce Callahan was flagged for a non-holding call that nullified a pick and led to K.C.’s first score.
—Nick Canepacolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for holding 
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Noun
In the three months ending on Sept. 30, Berkshire shed roughly a quarter of its remaining stake in Apple to $69.9 billion — the fourth consecutive quarter of cuts to its holdings of the iPhone maker.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 5 Nov. 2024
In his first term, Trump jettisoned traditional norms around presidents walling off their personal interests and instead retained his business holdings — including a Washington, D.C., hotel where foreign leaders booked rooms.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
This is a great opportunity to take advantage of lower cabinet storage which is often studier with more holding room.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2024
Bryce Callahan was flagged for a non-holding call that nullified a pick and led to K.C.’s first score.
—Nick Canepacolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for holding
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Cite this Entry
“Holding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holding. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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