Cool MateHold vs Support
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Support
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Hold | Support | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/həʊld/","/həʊldz/","/held/","/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/səˈpɔːt/","/səˈpɔːts/","/səˈpɔːtɪd/","/səˈpɔːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səˈpɔːrt/","/səˈpɔːrts/","/səˈpɔːrtɪd/","/səˈpɔːrtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To have something in your hands or arms. | To give help or assistance. |
| Example | Please hold this book while I grab my bag. | I want to support my friends in their endeavors. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | firmly, securely, tightly, commonly, widely, deeply | overwhelmingly, fervently, fully, agree to, pledge to, promise to, in, be well supported, be widely supported, support and encourage somebody/something, overwhelmingly, fervently, fully, agree to, pledge to, promise to, in, be well supported, be widely supported, support and encourage somebody/something, financially, generously, partially, help (to), through, financially, generously, partially, help (to), through, strongly, weakly, adequately, appear to, seem to, tend to, be supported by data, be supported by evidence, be well supported |
| Antonyms | release, let go, drop | oppose, hinder, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'held' in past tense forms., Using 'hold' when referring to emotional support instead of 'support'., Mistakenly used as 'hold on' in formal writing. | Confused with 'supplement', which means to add to something., Using 'support' as a noun without clarification (e.g. 'She gave support' is vague)., Mixing up 'support' and 'oppose'. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in very formal writing for physical holding; instead, use 'grasp' or 'clutch.' | This word can be used in many contexts like emotional support, financial help, or supporting a cause. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Hold vs Support
What's the difference between Hold and Support?
Hold: To have something in your hands or arms. Support: To give help or assistance.
Are Hold and Support the same CEFR level?
Hold: A2, Support: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hold and Support?
Hold: verb, Support: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold: Please hold this book while I grab my bag. Support: I want to support my friends in their endeavors.
Can I use Hold and Support interchangeably?
Not always. Hold and Support are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.