hold out

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"hold-out" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hold out” 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
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.

Key facts for hold out
PropertyValue
Headwordhold out
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hold out” sits in English frequency

hold out falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for hold out is 8 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 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for hold out in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From hold and out. The correct English form is hold out, spelled H-O-L-D- -O-U-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.
  2. 2
    To offer, present (a hope, possibility, opportunity etc.)
  3. 3
    To wait, or refuse in hopes of getting something better (from a negotiation, etc.)
  4. 4
    To survive, endure.
  5. 5
    To withhold something.
  6. 6
    To set aside something or save it for later.

Etymology

From hold and out.

This word in other languages

extender(Español)attendre(Français)abwarten(Deutsch)esperar(Português)

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

How do you spell "hold out"?
"hold out" is spelled H-O-L-D- -O-U-T.
What does "hold out" mean?
As a verb, "hold out" means: To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.
What is the origin of the word "hold out"?
From hold and out. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “hold out”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is H-O-L-D- -O-U-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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list