MEANING
To see or look at something, especially with close attention or wonder.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- a sight to behold
- behold the scene
On the page
From the ridge they beheld the flooded city shining beneath the moon.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- behold
- Past tense
- beheld
- Past participle
- beheld
- Present participle
- beholding
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- behold
- Present continuous
- am/is/are beholding
- Present perfect
- have/has beheld
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been beholding
- Past
- beheld
- Past continuous
- was/were beholding
- Past perfect
- had beheld
- Past perfect continuous
- had been beholding
- Future
- will behold
- Future continuous
- will be beholding
- Future perfect
- will have beheld
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been beholding
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: behold; beholds; beheld; beheld; beholding. Writing functions: description, atmosphere, narrative voice. Commonness: uncommon outside established phrases. Irregular forms checked.
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