hold out
2 meanings
offer something as a chance or possibility (hope, promise)
What does "hold out" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The doctors don't hold out much hope of a full recovery.
- Investigators held out little hope of finding survivors after the avalanche.
- The new treatment holds out great promise for patients with the condition.
How to use it
The most common pattern: the object (hope, promise, etc.) sits between the verb and 'out', almost always modified by words like 'much', 'little', 'any', or 'no'.
The search team held out little hope of finding anyone alive after the storm.
Negative constructions are the most frequent use of this phrasal verb — the combination of 'not hold out much hope' is close to a fixed phrase.
The engineers don't hold out much hope that the old bridge can be saved.
Positive constructions are less common but fully natural, typically describing new developments, treatments, or plans with an optimistic modifier.
The new vaccine holds out great promise for people with chronic respiratory conditions.
This phrasal verb often takes an institutional or authoritative subject — doctors, investigators, experts — who are assessing the likelihood of an outcome.
Officials held out little chance of a diplomatic agreement before the deadline.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Learners often drop the modifier and say 'hold out hope' on its own, but this sounds unnatural. Almost every real example includes a modifier like 'much', 'little', 'any', 'no', or 'great' before the object.
Adding 'for' completely changes the meaning — 'hold out for' means to wait and insist on getting something better, like a higher salary. This sense does not use 'for'.
This sense of 'hold out' sounds unnatural in continuous forms. Use simple present, simple past, or present perfect instead.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and common in journalism and news contexts. It appears far more often in negative or pessimistic sentences than positive ones, so practise it most in negative constructions.
wait and refuse to accept less than what you want
Sense 2: What does "hold out for sth" mean?
Examples
- The workers are holding out for a 10% pay increase and refuse to return until an agreement is reached.
- She held out for a better salary and eventually got what she wanted.
- Why are they holding out for such a high price when the market has changed?
How to use it
The most common structure: the object after 'for' is a concrete demand, such as a pay rise, a better price, or improved terms.
The sellers are holding out for the full asking price and won't consider any lower bids.
Used when the demand is a precise amount, making the refusal to compromise very clear.
The lead negotiator held out for a 12% pay increase and eventually secured it.
When the demand is already understood from context, the object and 'for' can be dropped entirely, especially in spoken language and journalism.
The union still hasn't signed — they're holding out.
Used with verbs like 'continue to' or 'refuse to stop' to emphasise the ongoing, deliberate nature of the stance.
Despite pressure from shareholders, the CEO continued to hold out for better acquisition terms.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Hold out' without 'for' means to resist or endure against pressure in a general sense, not to refuse a specific lesser offer in a negotiation. If you mean to name what someone is demanding, you need 'hold out for' with an object after 'for'.
'Hold out for' implies an active, strategic refusal in a negotiation — it should not be used to mean simply hoping or waiting for something desirable. Use 'hope for' or 'wait for' in those cases.
Because 'hold out for' always describes the deliberate stance of an active party, it cannot be made passive. The subject must always be the person or group refusing to compromise.
Usage
This phrasal verb is common in journalism and formal discussions of negotiations; it is slightly less common in everyday spoken English but still natural in professional conversations. It always implies an active refusal to accept a lesser offer, not just passive waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'hold out' with nouns other than 'hope' and 'promise'?
The range of objects is actually quite limited. The most common is 'hope', followed by 'promise', 'possibility', 'prospect', and 'chance'. You can't use it freely with just any noun — saying 'hold out a solution' or 'hold out an idea' doesn't work in this sense.
Does 'hold out' always have a negative or pessimistic meaning?
Not always, but it is much more commonly used in negative or cautious statements. Positive uses like 'holds out great promise' are natural and correct, but the negative pattern — 'not hold out much hope' — is by far the most frequent in real English, especially in news and reporting.
Can 'hold out' in this sense be used in the passive?
No — passive forms sound very unnatural here. You wouldn't say 'much hope was held out'. The subject is always the person or group expressing the prospect, not the abstract noun itself.
Does 'hold out' have other meanings I should know about?
Yes — the same two words can mean to physically extend something (like holding out your hand) or to resist and endure (like a team holding out against pressure). The key to this sense is that the object is always an abstract noun like 'hope' or 'promise', sitting between 'hold' and 'out'.
Is this phrasal verb more common in British or American English?
It's used in both varieties without any significant difference. You'll find it equally in British news reporting and American journalism, as well as in everyday speech across English-speaking countries.
Can 'hold out for' be used outside of formal negotiations — for example, when buying something casually?
Yes, it works in any context where there is a bargaining dynamic and one party refuses to accept less than they want. You might use it when discussing salary expectations during a job search, haggling over a car price, or even deciding not to accept a low offer on a flat you're selling. The key is that there must be a real negotiation, not just abstract wishing.
Does 'hold out for' suggest the person is being unreasonable or stubborn?
Not necessarily — it depends on context and tone. The phrase is neutral in journalism and business reporting, simply describing a negotiating stance. However, it can carry a slight connotation of stubbornness, especially if the demand seems excessive. Whether that's framed positively (determined) or negatively (obstinate) usually comes from the surrounding context.
Which tenses work most naturally with 'hold out for'?
The present continuous is particularly natural when describing an ongoing negotiation, as in 'they are holding out for better terms.' The simple past works well for concluded situations: 'she held out for a higher fee and got it.' The future continuous — 'they will be holding out for' — sounds awkward and is best avoided.
Can 'hold out for' take a clause as its object, for example 'hold out for what they deserve'?
Yes, a relative clause introduced by 'what' works naturally as the object: 'The contractors held out for what they felt was a fair rate.' This is a good way to express a demand without specifying an exact figure. A 'that'-clause, however, does not work — the object after 'for' must be a noun phrase or a 'what'-clause.
Is 'hold out for' mainly used in British English or is it common in American English too?
It is used in both British and American English, particularly in journalism and business contexts. There is no significant regional restriction — you will encounter it equally in reports about US labour disputes and UK contract talks, for example.
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