as in survived
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
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Recent Examples of held out
Remember, 10 degrees is approximately the same width as your clenched fist when held out against the night sky!
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In another clip, the mother and daughter duo held out their arms for an even larger bird, which appears to be a golden eagle.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Lower courts have rejected the administration’s arguments, but the administration has held out hope that the conservative-majority Supreme Court will rescue the tariffs, quickly appealing to the justices and urging them to move with speed.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
The Blue Jays shortstop was able to stay in the game, thanks to a two-hour rain delay that began after his injury, but was held out of Sunday’s lineup.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
More Gavin/Getty Acuna, who missed a large chunk of this season before returning from a knee injury, hit toward the bottom of the order in the team's last two games against the Seattle Mariners after being held out of the lineup entirely in the first game.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Hunt and Lewis were listed as limited participants, while Ekwonu was held out of the first practice.
—Mike Kaye
september 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
After flashing early in camp — including an interception off Zach Wilson that could have been returned for a touchdown — Trader was held out for much of the past 3 1/2 weeks while nursing a soft-tissue injury.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
If any of the four among Jeremiah Estrada, Adrián Morejón, Mason Miller and Robert Suarez had needed even a slight breather, Shildt surely would have held out that pitcher.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In another clip, the mother and daughter duo held out their arms for an even larger bird, which appears to be a golden eagle.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Lower courts have rejected the administration’s arguments, but the administration has held out hope that the conservative-majority Supreme Court will rescue the tariffs, quickly appealing to the justices and urging them to move with speed.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
The Blue Jays shortstop was able to stay in the game, thanks to a two-hour rain delay that began after his injury, but was held out of Sunday’s lineup.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
More Gavin/Getty Acuna, who missed a large chunk of this season before returning from a knee injury, hit toward the bottom of the order in the team's last two games against the Seattle Mariners after being held out of the lineup entirely in the first game.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Hunt and Lewis were listed as limited participants, while Ekwonu was held out of the first practice.
—Mike Kaye
september 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
After flashing early in camp — including an interception off Zach Wilson that could have been returned for a touchdown — Trader was held out for much of the past 3 1/2 weeks while nursing a soft-tissue injury.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
If any of the four among Jeremiah Estrada, Adrián Morejón, Mason Miller and Robert Suarez had needed even a slight breather, Shildt surely would have held out that pitcher.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held out
Verb
-
Nobody who was on board survived.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The bill on Wednesday night survived a procedural vote on party lines.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That Arkansas drive lasted 54 seconds and covered 75 yards in 4 plays.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
-
With the win, the 24-year-old erased a run of four straight world championships won by American athletes and ended a 10-year Jamaican drought, which had lasted since 2015 when Usain Bolt last won in Beijing.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, against Texas A&M, Notre Dame probably should have prevailed.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In 2020, voters narrowly passed Measure W, a half-cent, 10-year sales tax, but the money was held up for years as part of a court challenge the county ultimately prevailed in.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Held out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20out. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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