tenir

Senses

1. 1.

   to hold

   to grip or support something in one's hands or arms

2. 2.

   to keep

   to maintain or retain (a state, promise, commitment)

3. 3.

   to run

   to operate or manage (a shop, business, household)

4. 4.

   to take up space

   to occupy or fit within a certain place or capacity

Examples

• "Elle tient son enfant par la main."

  She holds her child by the hand.

• "Il tient sa promesse."

  He keeps his promise.

• "Ils tiennent un petit café en centre-ville."

  They run a small café in the city center.

Usage

Tenir is one of the most common French verbs with numerous idiomatic uses. It forms several important expressions: tenir bon (hold firm), tenir compte de (take into account), s'en tenir à (stick to), and tenir à (to be attached to, to insist on). The subjunctive appears frequently after tenir à ce que.