The verb to behold · Conjugation
Past Simple of behold
The answer: beheld
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to behold is beheld.
Example: They beheld the wonder.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | beheld |
| You | beheld |
| He / She / It | beheld |
| We | beheld |
| You (pl.) | beheld |
| They | beheld |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Beholded ❌
Same pattern as hold → held: behold → beheld → beheld.
2. A very literary verb
You almost never hear behold in conversation. It is mostly for literature, the Bible and the theatre. In everyday English, say see or look at.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of behold?+
Beheld. Same pattern as hold → held (behold = be + hold).
What does Behold mean as an exclamation?+
Behold! = look! here it is! It is very dramatic and old-fashioned, like in the Bible: Behold, the future!
What does beauty is in the eye of the beholder mean?+
A proverb: beauty depends on the person who looks. The beholder = the person who looks, so beauty is personal.
Is it behold or see?+
See = the normal word. Behold = to look at something special (literary, biblical). When you speak, always use see.
Is it beheld or beholded?+
Behold = be + hold. It follows the irregular verb hold: beheld. Beholded does not exist.
Related pages: behold Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/behold/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to behold are coming soon.