hold fast
"hold-fast" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“hold fast” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To stubbornly resist assault, pressure or opposition, either physically or mentally.
Corpus desk
Index EN-hold-fast · hold fast · English
hold fast · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 9 letters
- VOW-2 2 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "H" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | hold fast |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “hold fast” in English
Rare enough to double-check
hold fast is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
No misspelling variants are generated for hold fast in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: A verbal phrase composed of the words: hold ("grasp", "grip") and fast ("resolutely", "steadfastly"). The correct English form is hold fast, spelled H-O-L-D- -F-A-S-T.
Definition
- 1To stubbornly resist assault, pressure or opposition, either physically or mentally.
- 2A formal command to a ship's crew to grasp and hold on to a solid fitting, such as ropes or rails, to avoid being swept overboard, especially during a storm.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how hold fast appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
And now, while both elastic gunwales were springing in and out, as the whale dallied with the doomed craft in this devilish way; and from his body being submerged beneath the boat, he could not be darted at from the bows, for the bows were almost inside of him, as it were; and while the other boats involuntarily paused, as before a quick crisis impossible…
If we take science as our sole guide, if we accept and hold fast that alone which is verifiable, the old theology must go.
Etymology
A verbal phrase composed of the words: hold ("grasp", "grip") and fast ("resolutely", "steadfastly").
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.