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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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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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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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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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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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
Bella Decrescenzo,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
The composition of the bar changed dramatically as many Loyalist lawyers departed, others were jailed and younger lawyers assumed responsibilities previously held by members of the colonial establishment.
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Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Will Freeman,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
Google is marketing its AI products directly into the window where an immunity from AI overviews in search holds, which suggests the company could see more value in being seen helping with this World Cup than in fully automating it away just yet.
—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
This year, the questions are a little different, as Swift held her wedding to Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3.
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Bella Decrescenzo,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
The composition of the bar changed dramatically as many Loyalist lawyers departed, others were jailed and younger lawyers assumed responsibilities previously held by members of the colonial establishment.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Noun
Juan Carlos Valencia spent the afternoon of January 13th with his father, Johnny, loading ice into the hold of the Fiorella, a small longline-fishing boat.
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Will Freeman,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
Google is marketing its AI products directly into the window where an immunity from AI overviews in search holds, which suggests the company could see more value in being seen helping with this World Cup than in fully automating it away just yet.
—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The body politic wages war against itself in Shakespeare’s tragedy, and the all-out battle makes for a gripping spectacle in Griffith Park.
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Button Gwinnett didn’t want to be in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress in the summer of 1776, and not just because a heat wave gripped the city and delegates dressed in wool and powdered wigs.
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For just $18, this set includes four cubes in different sizes, along with a shoe bag, laundry bag, and cosmetic pouch to keep every travel essential in its place.
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The app also offers travel guides and organizes your daily itinerary, keeping all your plans in one place.
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Everybody thought this match was going to be a walk in the park.
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There was at least one person who thought to protest over the situation.
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Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
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The Lineage warehouse, built in 2018, is likely to contain different materials of concern.
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The landmark property celebrates the style of the sixties, when air travel still had a spark of glamor.
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The Chiefs have a world championship banner hanging atop the press box.
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The Heat began Tuesday by retaining three-point shooting forward Simone Fontecchio in free agency, and then continued to address its need for outside shooting when league-wide free agent negotiations were permitted to begin Tuesday night.
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Buildings with no air conditioning will heat up and retain the heat.
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While earlier concepts called for flip-up chairback seating throughout the stadium, engineers determined the historic venue's existing structure could not accommodate those seats without significantly reducing capacity or requiring major reconstruction.
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The Department of Homeland Security is changing the guidelines for Iran’s national soccer team ahead of its third World Cup match on Friday to accommodate extra time afforded to other countries in the tournament, an agency spokesperson said.
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Another fact these tax lovers don’t grasp is that predictions of the demise of Social Security are based on historically low rates of economic growth and productivity.
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Matt Smaby, a North Dakota assistant and former NHL defenseman, said there are so many other variables in playing the position that take time to fully grasp.
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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