Synonyms of hold
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as in to grip 
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as in to keep
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as in to think
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as in to contain
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as in to have
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as in to retain
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as in to accommodate
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as in to grasp
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as in to consider
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as in to regulate
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as in to aim
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as in grip
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as in stronghold
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as in sway
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as in contact
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as in jail
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as in understanding
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as in imprisonment
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1
as in to grip
to have or keep in one's hands
this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder
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2
as in to keep
to continue to have in one's possession or power
she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest
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3
as in to think
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
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5
as in to have
to keep in one's mind or heart
still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted
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6
as in to retain
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years
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as in to grasp
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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as in to regulate
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
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11
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
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1
as in grip
the act or manner of holding
make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on
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2
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
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3
as in sway
the right or means to command or control others
the government has no hold over where we live and work
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4
as in contact
the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation
I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency
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5
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life
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6
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action
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7
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody
a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold
Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
The show will be held Wednesday (July 16) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Nwigwe, joined by David Michael Wyatt, is set to perform the In Memoriam tribute.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2025
The Austin school district receives about $9.6 million from the funds that had been on hold as of July 1, Superintendent Matias Segura told reporters Tuesday.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
For years, top Trumpworld figures, some of whom currently hold top administration posts, and even the president himself, speculated about Epstein’s death and his alleged blackmail operation.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
The show will be held Wednesday (July 16) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Nwigwe, joined by David Michael Wyatt, is set to perform the In Memoriam tribute.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Noun
Carter said the execution will remain on hold until the Alabama Department of Mental Health concludes its report on Roberts.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2025
The Austin school district receives about $9.6 million from the funds that had been on hold as of July 1, Superintendent Matias Segura told reporters Tuesday.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Businesses have held back on adding new workers in large part because they’ve been gripped by uncertainty about where tariffs might ultimately settle in President Donald Trump’s volatile trade war.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
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Not since Captain Phillips have I been so gripped by this kind of maritime warfare, all of which reaches its climax when Kiki starts handing out water guns.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Excited to keep working to bring championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Aug. 2025
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Chip seal contractors just have to keep the liquid asphalt hot in special heated tanker trucks.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Alfie also thought moving away from home, at 16, would help his son mature.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
31 July 2025
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When thinking about Sterling Sharpe, one of the first people that comes to LeRoy Butler’s mind is the legendary bodybuilder Lee Haney.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Verb
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This post contains minor spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2. Nearly 30 years ago, Christopher McDonald left an indelible mark on pop culture with his performance as smarmy professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 sports comedy classic Happy Gilmore.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
25 July 2025
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The fruit contains a high water content and has many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
25 July 2025
Verb
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The 11-day schedule has more than 4000 athletes competing for titles in 34 sports including floorball, orienteering, and inline skating, then retiring to their housing in the all-inclusive athletes village designed to spur community-building and cultural exchange.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The Texas House has 150 members, and at least 100 are needed to attend to reach a quorum.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But his presidency was seen as a stop-gap, a way for Putin to side-step constitutional limits and retain power.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
3 Aug. 2025
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Tiffany Stratton retained the WWE Women’s Championship over Jade Cargill in a short, but flashy match.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Each launcher can accommodate either four or 16 interceptor missiles, depending on munition type.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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With four main assembly lines and space for a fifth, the plant can accommodate up to 250 people per shift.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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The above is something that Shupe somewhat uniquely grasps.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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When exposed to body temperatures, these needles interlock with each other and grasp onto the tissue surface that the platform is in contact with.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
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