beholding

USAGE SUMMARY

"beholding" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of seeing or observing something, often in a poetic or literary context. Example: "She stood on the hill, beholding the sunset." Alternative expressions include "seeing," "observing," and "gazing at."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those beholding natural landscapes made the switch to deferred gratification at a sum, known as the indifference point, that was 10% below those who scanned cityscapes.

The Economist

Thirdly, he must have strange terms and emphatical words … Fourthly, … such gestures of body as may lead away the spectators eyes from a strict and diligent beholding his manner of conveyance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Considering the comfort slave-owners in the American South drew from scripture, a selective biblical quotation comes to mind: the one about beholding the mote in thy brother's eye without perceiving the beam in thine own.

Independent

He then asks Billings to join him in beholding "the magnificent display of sculpture".

Independent

As a viewer, one began the journey beholding Wesley's monstrous condition and, by default, treating Wesley as something of a monster too.

Independent

Beholding his son, Ferdinand, dead and borne away by pig-headed demons, Alonso falls into a juddering fit: a turning point after which Prospero moves from retribution towards reconciliation (and more self-reproach than in Shakespeare).

Independent

I remember another painting by Friedrich, in which two women, also with their backs turned, appear to steady each other while beholding a harbor scene forested with masts and distant Gothic spires.

The New Yorker

With Vermeer, our eyes and minds squabble over what we are beholding.

The New Yorker

And Dan Chiasson springboards from James 1 23 ("For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass") into a poem about how he interviewed (or didn't interview) Janet Malcolm, whose new book "Iphigenia in Forest Hills" originated as an article in the magazine: She'd interviewed herself, I realized later; I was bystander to a rendezvous.

The New Yorker

Beholding one of the "Rouen Cathedral"s the other day reawakened a feeling about Monet that I hadn't had in many years: fright, at the apparition of a god of unfathomable pleasure.

The New Yorker

Beholding it, I feel that my usual ways of looking are torpid to the point of dishonoring the world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beholding" to add a touch of elegance or formality to your writing when describing the act of seeing something impressive or significant. It works particularly well in descriptive passages.

Common error

Avoid using "beholding" in everyday conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly theatrical or archaic in settings where simpler words like "seeing" or "watching" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "beholding" is that of a verb, specifically as the present participle of "behold". It can also function as a gerund or verbal noun. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage is grammatically correct and provides examples from a variety of sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "beholding" functions as a verb, specifically the present participle of "behold", and describes the act of seeing something, often with appreciation or awe. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical usage is correct, and it appears most frequently in news and media sources. While versatile, it is best suited for formal writing where a touch of elegance is desired. When a more casual tone is appropriate, alternatives such as "seeing" or "observing" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

witnessing

Highlights seeing something, especially an event.

observing

Focuses on watching something attentively.

viewing

Emphasizes the act of looking at something.

seeing

A general term for perceiving with the eyes.

perceiving

Emphasizes understanding what is seen.

gazing at

Suggests a prolonged and often admiring look.

noticing

Highlights becoming aware of something visually.

looking at

A basic and neutral way to express seeing.

inspecting

Suggests a careful and detailed examination.

contemplating

Implies deep thought while looking.

FAQs

How to use "beholding" in a sentence?

"Beholding" is often used to describe the act of seeing something impressive or significant, typically in a literary or descriptive context. For example, "They stood there, "beholding" the breathtaking vista".

What can I say instead of "beholding"?

You can use alternatives like "observing", "seeing", or "viewing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "beholding" or "holding"?

"Beholding" means to see or observe, while "holding" means to grasp or support something. They are not interchangeable and have completely different meanings.

What's the difference between "beholding" and "seeing"?

"Beholding" often implies a sense of wonder or awe when observing something, while "seeing" is a more general term for visual perception. "Beholding" is also more formal and literary.