Phrase guide

hold one's own

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To demonstrate oneself to be capable; to provide a respectable performance or worthy competition; to stick up for oneself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

maintain one's position and be in control of a situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: control, command

3

verb

Meaning 3

be sufficiently competent in a certain situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He can hold his own in graduate school

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: nie skrik vir koue pampoen nie — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Dutch: haar op zijn tanden hebben — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Dutch: zijn mannetje staan — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Finnish: pitää puolensa — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Finnish: pitää pintansa — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • French: se montrer à la hauteur — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • French: se montrer capable — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • French: bien se défendre — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • French: tenir son rang — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Hungarian: megállja a helyét — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Icelandic: standa sig — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Icelandic: halda sínum hlut — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Icelandic: fara ekki halloka — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Icelandic: hafa við einhverjum — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Polish: radzić sobie — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Polish: poradzić sobie — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Russian: постоя́ть за себя́ (postojátʹ za sebjá) — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Spanish: mostrarse capaz — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Spanish: mostrarse a la altura — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Spanish: defenderse bien — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Spanish: aguantar — demonstrate oneself to be capable
  • Spanish: plantar cara — demonstrate oneself to be capable