hold captive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It also said the Taliban should free 1,000 government personnel, including military men, they hold captive.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 25, 2020

I don’t know; they have great numbers of Christians whom they hold captive, and it is rare indeed that one of them escapes.

From By Conduct and Courage A Story of the Days of Nelson by Rainey, W. (William)

Being before the town we send in a boat under flag of truce to say we hold captive their governor, Don Federigo de Cosalva y Maldonada, demanding for him a sufficient ransom.

From Martin Conisby's Vengeance by Farnol, Jeffery

There was obviously some subtle quality in Watts-Dunton’s nature that not only attracted to him great minds in the world of art and letters; but which seemed to hold captive their affection for a lifetime. 

From Old Familiar Faces by Watts-Dunton, Theodore

Such a fate has actually befallen a multitude of comets which Jupiter and the other outlying planets have dragged into our system and helped the sun to hold captive here.

From A History of Science — Volume 3 by Williams, Henry Smith