take hold
phrase
1
: to grasp, grip, or seize something
took hold and hung on tight
—often used with oftake 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 figurativelyAs 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
2
: 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
Cite this Entry
“Take hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20hold. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
