take hold

idiomatic phrase

Synonyms of take hold next

: to grasp, grip, or seize something

took hold and hung on tight

—often used with of

take hold of the railing

… she took hold of his arm with both her hands, and looked up eagerly—oh, with such terrible eagerness!—into his face.—

Anthony Trollope

—often used figuratively

As word of the subpoenas spread … confusion and hysteria took hold of the social set …—

Bob Colacello

I did not want Merlin to retire from the job until I was ready to take hold of it effectively myself …—

Mark Twain

: to become effective, established, or popular

The change in the law has not yet taken hold.

… a swath of land that has been spared from lava flows long enough that rich vegetation has had a chance to take hold.—

G. Brad Lewis

… here in central California the French aesthetic has recently taken hold.—

Rebecca Coffey

Examples of take hold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Guthrie remembers calling her doctor in a panic, sure that the tightness that had taken hold in her chest was a heart attack. —

Korin Miller, SELF, 21 Jan. 2025 Squier took hold of Chambers' hand and began counting her students. —

Autumn Barnes, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025 Experts who spoke to ABC News said the measure would not penalize individuals for accessing or using the app, even after the ban takes hold. —

Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Jan. 2025 La Niña conditions have finally taken hold, bringing a more typical pattern for the rest of January. —

Jim Foerster, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for take hold