hold in

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle in

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Keep contained, refusing to release

Insideuncommon

Why “in”? A person or thing enters or remains within a space, limit, activity, or feeling.

He could no longer hold in his anger.
He could no longer control his anger.
She held in her tears during the speech.
She stopped herself from crying during the speech.

Don't confuse with

hold inhold out

Hold in means keep contained, refusing to release. Hold out means resist or last for a particular time.

hold inhold down

Hold in means keep contained. Hold down means keep someone or something restrained.

Hold in means keep contained. Hold behind means keep someone or something back from going forward.

Test yourself

He could no longer hold in his anger. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

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