hold fast
"hold-fast" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“hold fast” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To stubbornly resist assault, pressure or opposition, either physically or mentally.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | hold fast |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “hold fast” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for hold fast is 9 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “hold fast”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is H-O-L-D- -F-A-S-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.