ahold

IPA/əˈhəʊld/
KK[əhˈold]IPA/əˈhoʊld/

ahold — adverb

1. to manage to obtain a thing, often after looking for it or trying for some time

1.adverbA2
Definition

to manage to obtain a thing, often after looking for it or trying for some time

Example

Christopher got ahold of two concert tickets when the website reopened.

get ahold of + thing after effort

By noon, the bakery got ahold of more butter for the cakes.

Common collocations
  • get ahold of tickets
  • get ahold of money
  • get ahold of supplies
Synonyms
  • obtain

    more neutral and more common in formal writing.

  • secure

    stresses succeeding in getting something after effort or competition.

  • get hold of

    the usual British form for the same idea.

Grammar Patterns

get ahold of + thing

Usage Note

Usually follows get and is almost always followed by of plus a thing. In British English, get hold of is the more usual form for the same meaning.

Common Mistakes

I finally got ahold the tickets.
I finally got ahold of the tickets.
The phrase needs of before the thing you obtain.

2. to succeed in reaching a person and speaking or messaging them

2.adverbA2
Definition

to succeed in reaching a person and speaking or messaging them

Example

After her train reached Kaohsiung, I finally got ahold of Mira.

get ahold of + person after delay

The nurse could not get ahold of Christopher before the clinic closed.

Common collocations
  • get ahold of a friend
  • get ahold of the manager
  • get ahold of someone by phone
Synonyms
  • reach

    the most neutral choice for making contact with someone.

  • contact

    more formal and common in business or official situations.

  • get through to

    usually narrower, especially when a phone line or message is hard to connect.

Grammar Patterns

get ahold of + person

get ahold of + person by phone

get ahold of + person by message

Usage Note

Used mainly when finally reaching a person by phone, text, or another message after some difficulty. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about getting a thing rather than contacting a person.

Common Mistakes

I got ahold to Mira after lunch.
I got ahold of Mira after lunch.
This fixed phrase takes of before the person you reach.

3. to seize and keep a firm physical hold on someone or something

3.adverbA2
Definition

to seize and keep a firm physical hold on someone or something

Example

When the boat rocked, Cyrus grabbed ahold of the rail with both hands.

grab ahold of + object for support

Ayana took ahold of the child's coat before the child ran into the street.

Common collocations
  • grab ahold of the rail
  • take ahold of a coat
  • keep ahold of the rope
Synonyms
  • grab

    focuses on quick movement, while ahold often adds the idea of holding on.

  • seize

    more forceful and more formal than the everyday phrase ahold of.

  • clutch

    suggests holding very tightly, often from fear or urgency.

Antonyms
  • let go of

    for releasing the person or thing instead of holding it.

Grammar Patterns

grab ahold of + object

take ahold of + clothing

catch ahold of + support

Usage Note

Common after grab, take, catch, or keep, especially when someone is trying not to fall or not to let another person escape. Unlike sense 1, this sense always involves direct physical contact.

Common Mistakes

Cyrus grabbed ahold on the rail.
Cyrus grabbed ahold of the rail.
The fixed phrase uses of, not on.

4. to begin to dominate a person or situation so that it is hard to resist

4.adverbB2
Definition

to begin to dominate a person or situation so that it is hard to resist

Example

Panic got ahold of Christopher when all the lights went out.

abstract subject + get ahold of + person

Once the gambling got ahold of Eri's brother, every dinner at home grew tense.

Common collocations
  • panic got ahold of him
  • fear got ahold of the children
  • gambling got ahold of him
Synonyms
  • grip

    often used with emotions or fear, with a slightly more literary tone.

  • take over

    broader and can describe control of people, places, or systems.

  • dominate

    more formal and less conversational than get ahold of.

Grammar Patterns

fear + get ahold of + person

anger + get ahold of + person

habit + get ahold of + person

Usage Note

Usually has an abstract subject such as fear, anger, or addiction. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense says something takes control of a person, while sense 5 means the person regains control.

5. to make yourself become calmer again and control what you are saying or doing

5.adverbB1
Definition

to make yourself become calmer again and control what you are saying or doing

Example

After the shouting match, Esme went outside to get ahold of herself.

fixed phrase: get ahold of yourself

The coach asked the crying player to get ahold of herself and breathe slowly.

Common collocations
  • get ahold of yourself
  • tell someone to get ahold of himself
  • finally get ahold of herself
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • panic

    to lose control and become frightened or confused.

  • lose control

    focuses on failing to manage your actions or feelings.

Grammar Patterns

get ahold of yourself

got ahold of herself

need to get ahold of himself

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase get ahold of yourself, often as advice when someone is crying, shouting, or panicking. Unlike sense 4, the person is trying to control their own feelings.

Common Mistakes

Lakshmi told herself to get ahold from herself.
Lakshmi told herself to get ahold of herself.
This fixed phrase always uses of with a reflexive pronoun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/2

In the sense of reaching a person, 'get ahold of' is informal and often suggests that making contact took some effort. 'Reach' is the most neutral choice and works in speech, writing, phone calls, and email. 'Contact' is more formal and is common in business or official contexts. 'Get through to' is narrower: it usually means a phone call or message finally reached someone after failed attempts or a busy line. So you might say 'I finally got ahold of the plumber' in conversation, 'I reached the plumber' in a report, and 'I couldn't get through to the plumber' when the phone kept failing. Choose 'get ahold of' when you want a natural spoken style with a mild sense of difficulty.

get ahold ofreach ↗contact ↗get through to ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • get ahold of ...
  • grab ahold of ...
  • take ahold of ...

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Ahold developed in English from the older phrase 'a hold', where hold meant a grasp or a state of control. In informal North American use, the two words were often written together in phrases such as 'get ahold of' and 'grab ahold of'. The modern form kept the idea of grasping something and later widened to meanings such as obtaining, reaching, or being taken over by a feeling.

First known use

1850

1850, in the meaning defined above