Meanings
present singular third person holds court · participle present holding court · participle past held court · past held court
- To preside in a formal manner over an official assembly of courtiers and others in which entertainment is presented or affairs of state are considered.
[T]his was one of the anterooms off the main throneroom in which the king was accustomed to hold court with his entire retinue.
1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 19, in Tarzan the Untamed - lawTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law.
California's Acting Secretary of State . . . asked the judge in the case not to hold court on Election Day, Nov. 8, and the day before.
1994 August 14, Michael Janofsky, “Simpson Trial's Allure Puts State Politicians on the Spot”, in New York Times, retrieved 30 May 20131 more example
Bean held court in an outhouse, the prisoner seated on a bale of flint hides. Bean was not only judge but prosecutor, as well as counsel for the defense.
1906, Andy Adams, “Rangering”, in Cattle Brands: A Collection of Western Camp-Fire Stories - broadlyidiomaticTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
With a rumpled, folksy manner, he held court for years in the smoke-filled beer hall of the King Louis Hotel in Calgary.
2013 April 1, Douglas Martin, “Ralph Klein, 70, Politician in Alberta Oil Boom, Dies”, in New York Times, retrieved 30 May 20132 more examples
She was the centre of a very brilliant group, a most beautiful woman holding court, as was only right and proper, among her admirers.
1912, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 3, in Peter Ruff and the Double FourSuddenly I heard a familiar laugh, headed down to the bar and found José Andrés holding court with journalists on behalf of a solar-powered cookstove that cheaply boils water for people with little or no access to fuel.
2012 April 18, Anthony Bourdain, “José Andrés: Activist”, in Time
Translations
Esperanto solene prezidi
- solene prezidiTo preside in a formal manner over an official assembly of courtiers
Finnish pitää hovia, johtaa oikeudenkäyntiä
- pitää hoviaTo preside in a formal manner over an official assembly of courtiers
- johtaa oikeudenkäyntiäTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law
- pitää hoviaTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
French tenir salon
- tenir salonTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
Italian tenere banco
- tenere bancoTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
Polish królować, przewodniczyć
- królowaćTo preside in a formal manner over an official assembly of courtiers
- przewodniczyćTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law
- nadzorowaćTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law
- prezydowaćTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law
- prezesowaćTo convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law
- brylowaćTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
- zabrylowaćTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
Swedish hålla hov
- hålla hovTo serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
Cite this entry
hold court. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20court
“hold court.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20court. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hold court,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20court.
Source: hold court on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.