has held its ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has held its ground" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has remained stable or maintained its position despite challenges or opposition. Example: "Despite the economic downturn, the company's market share has held its ground against competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

BECAUSE it is versatile and cheap, paper has held its ground against the onslaught of electronic displays.

The Economist

Russian popular music has held its ground against western pop music.

The Economist

The pound, which weakened over the winter, has held its ground in recent weeks as the Liberal Democrats have climbed in the polls.

The New York Times

One of the cheeriest restaurants on the street is Susan's, which has held its ground for more than a dozen years.

The New York Times

Stop in at Windsor Pharmacy (1419 Avenue of the Americas), a wonderful relic that has held its ground on the corner of 58th Street since the 1940s, and the clientele and the inventory might make you mistake it for a boutique at Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

The New York Times

But at the same time, the company has held its ground far more securely in its home of Chicago: the audience at WGN declined only 0.8percentt between 2003 and 2005 against other stations, roughly in line with the average declines across the rest of the company's stations.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Over the 10 days that the 2/32nd had held Pabu, Mollard's force had endured repeated mortar and artillery fire, and repeated attacks, but with the assistance of strong artillery support, it had held its ground and in doing so had helped blunt the force of the Japanese counterattack at a time when Australian forces were making heavy progress towards the Japanese fortress at Sattelberg.

Wikipedia

In older times, it would not have held its ground," Mr. Amir said.

The New York Times

(Homeowners, lacking a 9-iron, might use a broom for the same purpose). Even a rattler or cottonmouth - the most feared snake of the South -would have held its ground only briefly before beating a tactical retreat.

The New York Times - Sports

The EPA should have held its ground on this issue.

Huffington Post

Media captionThe BBC's Nick Witchell: "The first fully competitive match staged in the grounds" Buckingham Palace has held its first official football match to mark the Football Association's 150th anniversary.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has held its ground" when you want to emphasize that something or someone has successfully resisted challenges and maintained their position or status. It implies resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

Common error

Avoid using "has held its ground" in situations where simple maintenance or stability is sufficient. The phrase carries a connotation of active resistance, so ensure the context involves a challenge or threat.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has held its ground" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that a subject has maintained its position or status despite facing challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has held its ground" is a versatile expression used to describe the maintenance of a position or status in the face of adversity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its prevalence in news, business, and encyclopedic contexts suggests its wide applicability. While semantically related phrases like "has stood its ground" or "has maintained its position" offer similar meanings, "has held its ground" specifically conveys a sense of active resistance. When employing this phrase, writers should ensure that the context justifies its connotation of facing a challenge to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has stood its ground

Replaces "held" with "stood", emphasizing resistance and firmness.

has maintained its position

Focuses on the continuation of a specific rank or status, rather than direct opposition.

has kept its place

Highlights the act of retaining a spot or position, often in a competitive setting.

has remained stable

Emphasizes consistency and lack of significant change, suggesting resistance to disruption.

has persevered

Highlights the endurance and continued effort despite difficulties or obstacles.

has withstood the challenge

Focuses on successfully enduring a particular trial or difficulty.

has resisted change

Implies active opposition to alteration or transformation.

has not yielded

Emphasizes a refusal to surrender or give way despite pressure.

has sustained itself

Highlights the ability to continue existing or operating, particularly under difficult circumstances.

has kept afloat

Suggests avoiding failure or collapse, particularly in a financial or competitive context.

FAQs

What does "has held its ground" mean?

The phrase "has held its ground" means that something has successfully maintained its position or status despite facing challenges, opposition, or adversity. It implies resilience and a refusal to be displaced or changed.

What are some alternatives to "has held its ground"?

Some alternatives to "has held its ground" include "has stood its ground", "has maintained its position", "has remained stable", or "has persevered". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "has held its ground" in a sentence?

You can use "has held its ground" to describe a company that has maintained its market share despite competition, a political party that has retained its support base, or a tradition that has survived despite modernization. For example: "Despite the rise of streaming services, vinyl records have held their ground among audiophiles."

Is "has held its ground" formal or informal?

"Has held its ground" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is frequently found in news articles, business reports, and academic writing, as well as in more casual conversations and blog posts.