The verb to hold · Conjugation
Past Simple of hold
The answer: held
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to hold is held.
Example: He held the door open.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | held |
| You | held |
| He / She / It | held |
| We | held |
| You (pl.) | held |
| They | held |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Holded ❌
Hold is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is held, never holded.
2. I have hold ❌
Like have → had → had, the Past Simple and the past participle are the same: held. So say I have held: I have held a snake before.
3. Hold on = to wait
On the phone, Hold on! means “wait a moment”. In other situations, people usually say wait: Wait for me at the bus stop.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of hold in real sentences
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of hold?+
The Past Simple of hold is held, the same for every person. The past participle is also held (the same as the Past Simple).
What does hold on mean on the phone?+
Hold on means (1) to wait a moment: Hold on, please! on the phone, or (2) to hold something tightly, not let go: Hold on tight!
Is it didn't hold or didn't held?+
Say didn't hold: He didn't hold the door for me. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (hold, not held).
Hold or keep: what is the difference?+
Hold = to have something in your hands or arms: She is holding a baby. Keep = to have something for a long time, or not tell it to anyone: Can you keep a secret?
Is holded correct?+
No. Hold is irregular. Its Past Simple is held, never holded: He held my hand.
Related pages: hold 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/hold/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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to hold are coming soon.