hold short

verb

To wait before entering a runway or a taxiway until given clearance to proceed.

“Can I cross runway 4L? — No, hold short of 4L for now.”

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Meanings

verbhold short (third-person singular simple present holds short, present participle holding short, simple past and past participle held short)

present singular third person holds short · participle present holding short · participle past held short · past held short

  1. intransitiveaeronauticsTo wait before entering a runway or a taxiway until given clearance to proceed.

    Can I cross runway 4L? — No, hold short of 4L for now.

Cite this entry
APA

hold short. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20short

MLA

“hold short.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20short. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hold short,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20short.

Source: hold short on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.