tenir/tə.niʁ/
verb · B1 · Frequency 258
verb
Meanings
to hold; to have in one's hand or possession
Used for physically holding or possessing something.
to keep; to maintain; to preserve
Used when keeping a state, condition, or thing unchanged.
to last; to hold up; to remain sound
Used when something lasts, stays sound, or stands.
to stand; to hold oneself in a posture
Often reflexive: to stand or keep a posture.
to behave; to conduct oneself
Often reflexive: to behave or conduct oneself.
to care about; to be attached to; to insist on
Often used in tenir a..., meaning to care about or insist on.
to consider; to regard as
Often used in tenir qn/qch pour..., meaning to regard as.
to support; to hold; to defend a position
Can mean physical support or holding/defending a position.
to hang out; to loiter
Slang for spending time idly in a place.
Examples
Il faut tenir la rampe dans cet escalier raide.
You have to hold the handrail on this steep staircase.
Pour tenir un registre fiable, l'équipe note chaque modification.
To keep a reliable record, the team notes every change.
Cette vieille table devrait tenir encore plusieurs années.
This old table should hold up for several more years.
Il essaie de tenir droit malgré la fatigue.
He is trying to stand straight despite his fatigue.
Collocations
- tenir la mainto hold the hand
- tenir une promesseto keep a promise
- tenir à quelqu'unto care about someone
Common mistakes
Je tient ce livre.
Je tiens ce livre.
The first-person singular present form of tenir is tiens; tient is the third-person singular form and cannot be used with je.
Related words
antonymlâcherto release; to loosen; to let go
synonymsaisirto take hold of; to grab; to capture (screen or data)
Grammar note
The verb tenir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on semantic and syntactic context; it can be transitive or intransitive and has a pronominal form tenir(se).
verb
Meanings
to hold; to have in one's hand or possession
Used for physically holding or possessing something.
to keep; to maintain; to preserve
Used when keeping a state, condition, or thing unchanged.
to last; to hold up; to remain sound
Used when something lasts, stays sound, or stands.
to stand; to hold oneself in a posture
Often reflexive: to stand or keep a posture.
to behave; to conduct oneself
Often reflexive: to behave or conduct oneself.
to care about; to be attached to; to insist on
Often used in tenir a..., meaning to care about or insist on.
to consider; to regard as
Often used in tenir qn/qch pour..., meaning to regard as.
to support; to hold; to defend a position
Can mean physical support or holding/defending a position.
to hang out; to loiter
Slang for spending time idly in a place.
Examples
Tenant un panier dans chaque main, elle est rentrée du marché.
Holding a basket in each hand, she came home from the market.
Tenant la porte ouverte, il a laissé entrer les visiteurs.
Keeping the door open, he let the visitors in.
Tenant encore après plusieurs lavages, ce tissu convient aux vêtements de travail.
Still holding up after several washes, this fabric is suitable for work clothes.
Tenant le dos bien droit, la danseuse avance lentement.
Holding her back straight, the dancer moves forward slowly.
Collocations
- tenir la mainto hold the hand
- tenir une promesseto keep a promise
- tenir à quelqu'unto care about someone
Common mistakes
Je tient ce livre.
Je tiens ce livre.
The first-person singular present form of tenir is tiens; tient is the third-person singular form and cannot be used with je.
Related words
antonymlâcherto release; to loosen; to let go
synonymsaisirto take hold of; to grab; to capture (screen or data)
Grammar note
The verb tenir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on semantic and syntactic context; it can be transitive or intransitive and has a pronominal form tenir(se).
verb
Meanings
to hold; to have in one's hand or possession
Used for physically holding or possessing something.
to keep; to maintain; to preserve
Used when keeping a state, condition, or thing unchanged.
to last; to hold up; to remain sound
Used when something lasts, stays sound, or stands.
to stand; to hold oneself in a posture
Often reflexive: to stand or keep a posture.
to behave; to conduct oneself
Often reflexive: to behave or conduct oneself.
to care about; to be attached to; to insist on
Often used in tenir a..., meaning to care about or insist on.
to consider; to regard as
Often used in tenir qn/qch pour..., meaning to regard as.
to support; to hold; to defend a position
Can mean physical support or holding/defending a position.
to hang out; to loiter
Slang for spending time idly in a place.
Examples
J'ai tenu la clé dans ma main pendant toute la réunion.
I held the key in my hand throughout the meeting.
Elle a tenu le billet soigneusement dans son portefeuille.
She kept the ticket carefully in her wallet.
Nous avons tenu notre promesse malgré les difficultés.
We kept our promise despite the difficulties.
Le musée a tenu ses portes ouvertes jusqu'à vingt heures.
The museum kept its doors open until eight p.m.
Grammar note
The verb tenir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on semantic and syntactic context; it can be transitive or intransitive and has a pronominal form tenir(se).
verb
Meanings
to hold; to have in one's hand or possession
Used for physically holding or possessing something.
to keep; to maintain; to preserve
Used when keeping a state, condition, or thing unchanged.
to last; to hold up; to remain sound
Used when something lasts, stays sound, or stands.
to stand; to hold oneself in a posture
Often reflexive: to stand or keep a posture.
to behave; to conduct oneself
Often reflexive: to behave or conduct oneself.
to care about; to be attached to; to insist on
Often used in tenir a..., meaning to care about or insist on.
to consider; to regard as
Often used in tenir qn/qch pour..., meaning to regard as.
to support; to hold; to defend a position
Can mean physical support or holding/defending a position.
to hang out; to loiter
Slang for spending time idly in a place.
Examples
Je tiens le billet dans ma main.
I am holding the ticket in my hand.
Je tiens ma promesse malgré les difficultés.
I am keeping my promise despite the difficulties.
Je tiens encore debout après cette longue randonnée.
I am still standing after this long hike.
Je tiens le dos bien droit pendant l'exercice.
I keep my back straight during the exercise.
Collocations
- tenir la mainto hold the hand
- tenir une promesseto keep a promise
- tenir à quelqu'unto care about someone
Common mistakes
Je tient ce livre.
Je tiens ce livre.
The first-person singular present form of tenir is tiens; tient is the third-person singular form and cannot be used with je.
Related words
antonymlâcherto release; to loosen; to let go
synonymsaisirto take hold of; to grab; to capture (screen or data)
Grammar note
The verb tenir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on semantic and syntactic context; it can be transitive or intransitive and has a pronominal form tenir(se).
verb
Meanings
to hold; to have in one's hand or possession
Used for physically holding or possessing something.
to keep; to maintain; to preserve
Used when keeping a state, condition, or thing unchanged.
to last; to hold up; to remain sound
Used when something lasts, stays sound, or stands.
to stand; to hold oneself in a posture
Often reflexive: to stand or keep a posture.
to behave; to conduct oneself
Often reflexive: to behave or conduct oneself.
to care about; to be attached to; to insist on
Often used in tenir a..., meaning to care about or insist on.
to consider; to regard as
Often used in tenir qn/qch pour..., meaning to regard as.
to support; to hold; to defend a position
Can mean physical support or holding/defending a position.
to hang out; to loiter
Slang for spending time idly in a place.
Examples
Elle tient une lampe dans une main et un carnet dans l'autre.
She is holding a lamp in one hand and a notebook in the other.
Il tient sa promesse malgré les difficultés rencontrées.
He keeps his promise despite the difficulties he has encountered.
Cette vieille chaise tient encore malgré ses nombreuses réparations.
This old chair is still holding up despite its many repairs.
La fermeture tient bien depuis que nous avons remplacé le bouton.
The fastening has held up well since we replaced the button.
Collocations
- tenir la mainto hold the hand
- tenir une promesseto keep a promise
- tenir à quelqu'unto care about someone
Common mistakes
Je tient ce livre.
Je tiens ce livre.
The first-person singular present form of tenir is tiens; tient is the third-person singular form and cannot be used with je.
Related words
antonymlâcherto release; to loosen; to let go
synonymsaisirto take hold of; to grab; to capture (screen or data)
Grammar note
The verb tenir can use either avoir or être as auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on semantic and syntactic context; it can be transitive or intransitive and has a pronominal form tenir(se).