In 15 Seconds
- Organize and lead a discussion.
- Implies you are in charge.
- Used for business and formal settings.
- Not for casual hangouts.
Meaning
When you `hold a meeting`, you're basically the ringleader for a get-together where people talk about important stuff. It's not just showing up; it's making sure the whole thing happens, from booking the room to setting the agenda. Think of it as orchestrating a business chat, where you guide the conversation and make sure everyone contributes. It has a vibe of organized purpose, like a mini-summit in your office or on Zoom.
Key Examples
3 of 12Workplace email
I'll hold a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM to discuss the project proposal.
I'll hold a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM to discuss the project proposal.
Team chat message
Can we hold a quick meeting after lunch to finalize the slides?
Can we hold a quick meeting after lunch to finalize the slides?
Job interview
My previous role involved holding regular meetings with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
My previous role involved holding regular meetings with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
Cultural Background
In the US, holding a meeting usually involves a strict agenda and 'action items.' Efficiency is highly valued. Holding a meeting (Kaigi) is often a formal ceremony to confirm decisions already made through informal consensus-building called 'Nemawashi.' German meetings are highly structured. If you hold a meeting, you are expected to be extremely punctual and well-prepared with data. In the UK, meetings might involve more polite 'small talk' at the beginning, but 'holding a meeting' still implies a formal professional structure.
Use Passive for Reports
In formal reports, use 'A meeting was held' to sound more objective.
Avoid 'Make'
Never say 'make a meeting'. It is the most common mistake for non-native speakers.
In 15 Seconds
- Organize and lead a discussion.
- Implies you are in charge.
- Used for business and formal settings.
- Not for casual hangouts.
What It Means
Hold meeting is a super common way to say you're organizing and running a get-together. It’s not just a casual chat. It’s usually for a specific purpose, like discussing a project, making a decision, or sharing information. You’re not just attending; you’re often the one making it happen. It carries a sense of responsibility and structure. Think of it as being the conductor of an orchestra, but instead of violins, you have people talking about TPS reports. It’s about making sure the discussion flows and achieves its goals.
How To Use It
You use hold meeting when you are the one initiating or managing the event. It's about taking charge of the arrangements and the actual running of the session. You can hold a meeting in person or virtually. The key is that you are actively involved in its creation and execution. For example, you might say, "I need to hold a meeting to discuss the new marketing strategy." This tells everyone you're planning it. It's a flexible phrase that fits many professional and even some semi-formal social contexts. Just remember, it implies you have a role in its organization.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine your boss saying, "We need to hold a meeting first thing Monday to go over the quarterly results." Or maybe you're planning a study group: "Let's hold a meeting tonight to cram for the history exam." Even in a casual work setting, someone might text, "Hey, can we hold a quick meeting after lunch to finalize the client presentation?" It’s everywhere! It’s the go-to phrase for setting up a focused discussion. It’s like saying, "Let's get together and make this happen." It’s efficient and clear.
When To Use It
Use hold meeting when you are the organizer or a key facilitator. It works perfectly for business contexts, team updates, project planning, or even club discussions. If you're scheduling a formal review, a brainstorming session, or a problem-solving discussion, this phrase fits. It's also great when you want to emphasize that you're taking the initiative. For instance, "The project manager will hold a meeting to assign tasks." It signals that action is being taken. It's the sound of productivity kicking in. Did you know some people use it to schedule coffee breaks? Okay, maybe not, but it’s that versatile!
When NOT To Use It
Avoid hold meeting for very casual, spontaneous chats. If you're just grabbing a coffee with a colleague to catch up, you wouldn't hold a meeting. It sounds way too formal. Also, don't use it if you're just a participant. If someone else is organizing it, you attend, you don't hold it. Using it incorrectly can make you sound a bit stiff or like you’re overcomplicating things. It's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut – sometimes a simple chat is all you need. So, no holding a meeting to decide where to order pizza from, unless your office policy is *that* intense.
Common Mistakes
One big mistake is using hold meeting for informal gatherings. You wouldn't say, "Let's hold a meeting at the pub after work." It sounds absurdly formal. Another error is confusing it with simply attending. You don't hold a meeting you're invited to as a guest. The key is active organization.
✗ Let's hold a meeting for pizza.
✓ Let's have a meeting for pizza.
✗ I will hold the meeting tomorrow.
✓ I will attend the meeting tomorrow.
It's easy to get tripped up, but thinking about who's in charge helps a lot. It's like mistaking a director for an actor – both are in the movie, but their roles are totally different!
Similar Expressions
Have a meeting: This is a very close synonym, often interchangeable. It's slightly more neutral about who is organizing. "We willhave a meetingabout the budget."Schedule a meeting: This focuses specifically on the act of booking a time and place. "I need toschedule a meetingwith HR."Conduct a meeting: This is more formal and emphasizes the process of running the meeting. "The CEO willconduct the meeting."Call a meeting: This implies initiating or summoning people to a meeting, often urgently. "The manager had tocall a meetingto address the issue."Organize a meeting: This highlights the planning and preparation aspect. "She willorganize the meetingfor the team retreat."
Common Variations
Hold a quick meeting: For short, focused discussions. "Can wehold a quick meetingabout this email?"Hold a team meeting: Specifically for a group of colleagues. "The manager willhold a team meetingon Friday."Hold a board meeting: For high-level executives or directors. "The board willhold a meetingnext month."Hold a conference call: For virtual meetings using audio. "We'llhold a conference callto discuss the international project."Hold an emergency meeting: For urgent, unexpected situations. "They had tohold an emergency meetingafter the system crashed."
Memory Trick
Imagine a meeting happening inside a big, sturdy holder. This holder keeps everything organized and in place, just like you do when you hold a meeting. You're the 'holder' of the discussion, making sure it doesn't spill out or get messy. So, when you hold a meeting, you're holding onto the reins of the conversation, keeping it on track. It's like a sturdy briefcase for your important discussions!
Quick FAQ
Q. Is hold meeting formal?
A. It’s generally neutral to formal. You wouldn’t use it for a super casual chat with friends, but it's standard in most workplaces. It sounds professional without being overly stuffy. Think of it as your reliable workhorse phrase for setting up business discussions.
Q. Can I say hold a chat?
A. No, hold a chat isn't a standard phrase. You'd say have a chat or hold a meeting. Hold works with meeting because it implies organization and structure. Chat is too informal for that structure. It's like trying to hold water in a sieve – it just doesn't work!
Q. What’s the difference between hold meeting and have meeting?
A. Hold meeting emphasizes your active role in organizing and running it. Have meeting is more general, focusing on the event itself happening. If you're the one calling the shots, hold meeting is perfect. If you're just participating, have meeting might be more fitting, though they are often used interchangeably.
Usage Notes
The phrase `hold meeting` is standard in professional and business contexts. While generally neutral, it leans towards formal. Avoid using it for casual social gatherings, as it implies organization and purpose that don't fit informal chats. Ensure you are the organizer or facilitator before using 'hold' to describe your involvement.
Use Passive for Reports
In formal reports, use 'A meeting was held' to sound more objective.
Avoid 'Make'
Never say 'make a meeting'. It is the most common mistake for non-native speakers.
Agenda is Key
If you say you are 'holding a meeting,' people will expect you to have a plan or an agenda.
Examples
12I'll hold a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM to discuss the project proposal.
I'll hold a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM to discuss the project proposal.
Clearly states the speaker's role in organizing the meeting.
Can we hold a quick meeting after lunch to finalize the slides?
Can we hold a quick meeting after lunch to finalize the slides?
Emphasizes a brief, focused discussion initiated by the speaker.
My previous role involved holding regular meetings with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
My previous role involved holding regular meetings with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
Demonstrates experience in managing and conducting group discussions.
Teamwork makes the dream work! Excited to hold our next strategy meeting soon. 🚀 #teamgoals #meetingvibes
Teamwork makes the dream work! Excited to hold our next strategy meeting soon. 🚀 #teamgoals #meetingvibes
A slightly more energetic, forward-looking use of the phrase in a social media context.
Let's hold a study meeting this weekend to go over the chemistry notes.
Let's hold a study meeting this weekend to go over the chemistry notes.
Suggests organizing a focused session for academic purposes.
✗ Let's hold a meeting at the park this afternoon.
✗ Let's hold a meeting at the park this afternoon.
This sounds too formal for a casual park gathering; 'have a picnic' or 'meet up' would be better.
✗ I'm excited to hold the marketing meeting on Friday.
✗ I'm excited to hold the marketing meeting on Friday.
If you are just attending, you should say 'attend' or 'go to'. 'Hold' implies you are organizing it.
The committee will hold a special meeting to discuss the new bylaws.
The committee will hold a special meeting to discuss the new bylaws.
Standard phrasing for official announcements by organizations.
We need to hold a meeting about the budget soon.
We need to hold a meeting about the budget soon.
Indicates an intention to organize a discussion regarding a specific topic.
I'll hold a Zoom meeting later to walk everyone through the software update.
I'll hold a Zoom meeting later to walk everyone through the software update.
Specifies the platform and purpose of the organized virtual gathering.
As the team lead, I decided to hold the meeting to address the recent challenges.
As the team lead, I decided to hold the meeting to address the recent challenges.
Highlights the speaker's proactive role and responsibility in organizing the discussion.
After weeks of uncertainty, I'm relieved we could finally hold a meeting to clear the air.
After weeks of uncertainty, I'm relieved we could finally hold a meeting to clear the air.
Shows the phrase used in a context where the meeting itself provides resolution or emotional release.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'hold'.
The manager _______ a meeting yesterday to discuss the new office rules.
The word 'yesterday' indicates the past tense, so 'held' is the correct form.
Which sentence is the most professional?
You want to tell your boss you are organizing a discussion.
'Holding a meeting' is the standard professional collocation.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Match 'Hold a meeting' vs 'Meet up'.
'Hold a meeting' is for formal/work contexts; 'Meet up' is for casual/social contexts.
Complete the dialogue.
A: We have a lot of problems to solve. B: I agree. We should _______ a meeting as soon as possible.
'Hold a meeting' is the natural collocation here.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesThe manager _______ a meeting yesterday to discuss the new office rules.
The word 'yesterday' indicates the past tense, so 'held' is the correct form.
You want to tell your boss you are organizing a discussion.
'Holding a meeting' is the standard professional collocation.
Match 'Hold a meeting' vs 'Meet up'.
'Hold a meeting' is for formal/work contexts; 'Meet up' is for casual/social contexts.
A: We have a lot of problems to solve. B: I agree. We should _______ a meeting as soon as possible.
'Hold a meeting' is the natural collocation here.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThey are very similar, but 'hold' is slightly more formal and implies you are the organizer.
Yes, but it usually implies a formal 1-on-1, like a performance review.
The past tense is 'held a meeting'. Example: 'We held a meeting yesterday.'
You almost always need the article 'a' or 'the', or make it plural: 'hold meetings'.
Absolutely. 'We are holding a meeting on Zoom' is very common now.
It comes from the idea of 'keeping' or 'maintaining' a space and time for people to gather.
Yes, it is standard in all major varieties of English.
'Convene' is much more formal and usually used for official or legal groups.
No, that sounds too formal. For a party, you 'throw' or 'have' a party.
It's a meeting where everyone stays standing to keep it short and efficient.
Related Phrases
chair a meeting
specialized formTo act as the official leader/moderator of a meeting.
convene a meeting
formalTo officially call people together for a meeting.
host a meeting
similarTo provide the space or platform for a meeting.
call a meeting
builds onTo announce that a meeting will happen.
