Antonyms for held down

Grammar : Adj, adv, verb

Spell : hohld

Phonetic Transcription : hoʊld

Definition of held down

Origin : Old English haldan (Anglian), healdan (West Saxon), "to contain, grasp; retain; foster, cherish," class VII strong verb (past tense heold, past participle healden), from Proto-Germanic *haldanan (cf. Old Saxon haldan, Old Frisian halda, Old Norse halda, Dutch houden, German halten "to hold," Gothic haldan "to tend"), originally "to keep, tend, watch over" (as cattle), later "to have." Ancestral sense is preserved in behold. The original past participle holden was replaced by held beginning 16c., but survives in some legal jargon and in beholden.
Hold back is 1530s, transitive; 1570s, intransitive; hold off is early 15c., transitive; c.1600, intransitive; hold out is 1520s as "to stretch forth," 1580s as "to resist pressure." Hold on is early 13c. as "to maintain one’s course," 1830 as "to keep one’s grip on something," 1846 as an order to wait or stop. To hold (one's) tongue "be silent" is from c.1300. To hold (one's) own is from early 14c. To hold (someone's) hand "give moral support" is from 1935. Phrase hold your horses "be patient" is from 1844. To have and to hold have been paired alliteratively since at least c.1200, originally of marriage but also of real estate.

As in silenced : adj quieted
As in under : adv below
As in inhibit : verb restrict, prevent
As in manage : verb be in charge, control
As in pin : verb attach, hold in place
As in quiet : verb make silent, calm
As in restrict : verb confine, limit situation or ability to participate
As in stifle : verb prevent, restrain
As in suppress : verb restrain, hold in check
As in weigh down : verb depress
As in withhold : verb keep back
As in hold back : verb repress
As in bottle up : verb hold in check
As in check : verb hinder, restrain
As in constrain : verb force; restrain
As in curb : verb repress, restrict
As in grind : verb oppress
As in hold back/hold off : verb repress

Example sentences :

He said nothing in reply at first, but held down his head, and struggled with him silently.
Extract from : « Barnaby Rudge » by Charles Dickens

It was the truth; John could not deny it; he held down his head and was silent.
Extract from : « The Christian » by Hall Caine

Her head was held down and there was a little nervous tremor at her heart.
Extract from : « The Eternal City » by Hall Caine

Roma's eyes were held down, her voice was agitated, she was scarcely able to speak.
Extract from : « The Eternal City » by Hall Caine

These nuts should be turned up so that the battery is held down tight.
Extract from : « The Automobile Storage Battery » by O. A. Witte

Gerald held down his head and muttered a half audible 'Yes.'
Extract from : « Gerald Fitzgerald » by Charles James Lever

He held down the stun-pistol trigger and traversed the rushing men.
Extract from : « The Pirates of Ersatz » by Murray Leinster

Julia was the only one who was held down to regular hours of practising, but they all played.
Extract from : « My Antonia » by Willa Cather

They said I chattered and screamed, and had to be held down in the bed.
Extract from : « Little Folks (October 1884) » by Various

He arrives there because he cannot be held down and remains as long as he proves his worth.
Extract from : « Frenzied Finance » by Thomas W. Lawson

Synonyms for held down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019