1
as in clutched
to have or keep in one's hands
this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retained
to continue to have in one's possession or power
she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in believed
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in had
to keep in one's mind or heart
still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in owned
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
as in grasped
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
please hold my arm on these slippery stairs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
10
as in controlled
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside hold your temper until you hear the whole story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in aimed
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.
—
Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025
Mack held 35 actress and five producer credits during her career, according to the statement posted to CaringBridge.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
That’s different from another type of equity offering held by the NFL.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025
One of the duties Lelakes has held at the YMCA is overseeing facilities across the county of San Diego for maintenance and capital improvement projects.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The docuseries will be available to stream beginning Thursday on Prime Video, but an early screening of the second episode was held Monday for a collection of friends, family, business associates and media.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025
During 9/11, people walked down the stairs in single file and held the door open for each other.
—Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
Ensign said the Department of Homeland Security is complying with the law during deportations, and people could file challenges individually in Texas, where they were held before being sent to El Salvador.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025
Mack held 35 actress and five producer credits during her career, according to the statement posted to CaringBridge.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
That’s different from another type of equity offering held by the NFL.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025
One of the duties Lelakes has held at the YMCA is overseeing facilities across the county of San Diego for maintenance and capital improvement projects.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
The docuseries will be available to stream beginning Thursday on Prime Video, but an early screening of the second episode was held Monday for a collection of friends, family, business associates and media.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025
During 9/11, people walked down the stairs in single file and held the door open for each other.
—Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
Ensign said the Department of Homeland Security is complying with the law during deportations, and people could file challenges individually in Texas, where they were held before being sent to El Salvador.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held
Verb
-
Over about 20 minutes, Swift crafted a portrait of a record-breaking artist who is two decades into a career that has enabled her to work with so many collaborators (including Liz Rose, who was in attendance and who clutched Swift’s hands when All Too Well played over the speakers).—
P. Claire Dodson,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
-
The 34-year-old Eriksen clutched his chest with both hands in an off-the-ball action before dropping to the ground in the 65th minute of Denmark’s international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, Denmark, on Sunday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
According to the staff report, data is retained for a maximum of one year unless part of an active investigation, and annual audits are conducted to verify compliance with privacy policies.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
In hiring Jeffrey Kessler, Sorsby has retained a top sports litigator for his case against the NCAA.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Investigators said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in her death.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
Our original motto made no claim about what Americans believed about God.—
David Williamson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The fire was 60% contained as of Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
There was only brief debate — and none of it contained support for women pastors.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The water, too, was wild—the Allegheny and its tributaries had yet to be dammed, and Flag Swamp was noted as one of the last hideouts for beavers in the state.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Elections officials still had about 13,000 ballots left to count across all of Yolo County as of Tuesday afternoon.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The all-day brunch chain has two other Charlotte-area locations (not owned by FourFiveNine) with spots in Ballantyne and Rock Hill, South Carolina.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
-
Four custom Spot robot dogs from Boston Dynamics, which is owned by Hyundai Motor Group, are leading the effort.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The center's restaurants and café have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items marked on their menus, and food allergies and special dietary needs will be accommodated as much as possible.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Beginning in 1978 when the city started to build Reunion Arena, the city of Dallas accommodated both the Mavericks and Stars with buildings that became key pieces to its growing downtown landscape.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The correct response cannot be grasped, only meditated upon in the way of a koan used to train Zen Buddhist monks and force them into enlightenment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Walt Whitman grasped that something entirely different was called for.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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