hold within

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold within" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in the context of having something inside of you or another person, such as a feeling, emotion, or idea. For example, you could say, "I try to hold happiness within me, but it's hard to do sometimes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How much power does she hold within the Party?

Independent

What kind of power or influence do they hold within their particular party?

The New York Times

The Stan-Smith effect took hold within the music industry, too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Americanness draws a veil, it lends a carapace to the distant lives we hold within".

The Economist

But no story should hold within it the horrors I have witnessed here, so similar in detail to humiliations suffered by the Jews.

The Guardian

Many people are concerned about the issue of peak oil and the perception that the world is running out of oil has taken hold within investors.

The New York Times

Yet it wasn't hard to argue that cultural lessons had taken permanent hold within these subjects long before their emergence as females could have altered the culture's influence.

The New York Times - Magazine

The measures will freeze any assets that the officials hold within the United States and prohibit Americans from transacting or doing business with them.

The New York Times

"What all this reveals is that a lot of rot has settled into the Canadian media, specifically taking hold within the CBC," Brown said.

The Guardian

In their "striking packaging", Watt said, the bottles were "disrupting conventions and breaking taboos – just like the beer they hold within them".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A single formula that purports to hold within itself the deepest mysteries of existence: the idea rings with all sorts of spiritual and scientific implications.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold within" to describe intangible things like emotions, beliefs, or secrets that a person possesses internally. For example, "She tried to hold her anger within."

Common error

Avoid using "hold within" to describe physically holding something. It's more appropriate to say "hold in" or "hold". For example, instead of "He tried to hold the water within the cup", say "He tried to hold the water in the cup" or "He held the cup".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold within" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that something is contained, possessed, or maintained internally. As Ludwig AI notes, it expresses containment of feelings, emotions, or ideas.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

39%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold within" is a versatile phrase used to express the internal containment or possession of something, whether tangible or more often intangible such as emotions or ideas. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both casual and more formal writing, although it's essential to use it to describe intangible things, like feelings or secrets and avoid misusing it for physically holding something. When aiming to capture the essence of internal possession or containment, "hold within" is a valuable and well-supported choice. Alternatives include "contain inside", "harbor inside" and "possess internally", all offering subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have inside

Simple and direct way of expressing internal possession or containment.

contain inside

Focuses on the physical act of containing something within a defined space.

harbor inside

Emphasizes secretly keeping something, often a feeling or thought, inside oneself.

encompass within

Implies a broader sense of inclusion or coverage within something.

possess internally

Highlights the internal possession of qualities, characteristics, or attributes.

include internally

Highlights the internal inclusion of elements or components.

keep internally

Stresses the act of maintaining something secret or private inside oneself.

retain inside

Focuses on preserving or keeping something inside over a period of time.

shelter within

Implies protection or refuge within something.

accommodate within

Highlights the ability of something to provide space or capacity internally.

FAQs

How can I use "hold within" in a sentence?

Use "hold within" to express the containment of something intangible, like emotions or beliefs, inside a person or object. For instance, "The artist sought to hold the essence of nature within her paintings."

What are some alternatives to "hold within"?

Alternatives include "contain inside", "harbor inside", or "possess internally", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "hold in" instead of "hold within"?

While "hold within" emphasizes internal containment, "hold in" often refers to suppressing or restraining something, especially emotions. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "hold within" and "contain"?

"Contain" generally refers to physically enclosing something, whereas "hold within" suggests a deeper, often emotional or abstract, sense of internal possession or inclusion.