hold-down

1 of 2

noun

ˈhōl(d)-ˌdau̇n 

1

: something used to fasten an object in place

2

a

: an act of holding down

b

: limit

agreed to wage-rate hold-downs

hold down

2 of 2

verb

held down; holding down; holds down

transitive verb

1

: to keep within limits

hold the noise down

2

: to assume or have responsibility for

holding down two jobs

Synonyms

Verb

• cap
• circumscribe
• confine
• limit
• restrict

Examples of hold-down in a Sentence

Verb

efforts to hold down taxes keep running up against the legislature's ingrained unwillingness to cut spending

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Then, 12 hold-down bolts fired and freed the Delta IV Heavy for its climb into space with a top-secret payload for the US government's spy satellite agency. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 9 Apr. 2024

SpaceX tested the water deluge system several times since April, including on a pair of hold-down engine tests with the Super Heavy booster in August. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023

Verb

Clarke Schmidt, a 29-year-old righty who was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, out of South Carolina in 2017, was slated to hold down the back end of the Yankees rotation — though his importance was elevated after two other crucial injuries to Yankees starters. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

The chilly weather and steady, wet snow on Sunday held down the crowds this year, but those who did come like Billy Van Duzor and his daughter Nora, 8, vowed to make the best of things. —David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hold-down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown