as in survives
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 holds out
The owner who holds out for yesterday’s pricing can discover that extended vacancy carries a cost that is far greater than a small concession would have been.
—
Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The gamble that Dallas plays in this instance is if Pickens holds out from voluntary and mandatory offseason activities until a long-term deal is worked out.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Trade deadline season always holds out some hope, as well as rampant rumor-mongering, that something big will happen and the B’s were the subject of much talk.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
But seemingly by sheer willpower, Meredith holds out her hand, which sends the liquid back in the opposite direction toward Britani.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Here’s hoping the good weather holds out for at least a few more weeks.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The gamble that Dallas plays in this instance is if Pickens holds out from voluntary and mandatory offseason activities until a long-term deal is worked out.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Trade deadline season always holds out some hope, as well as rampant rumor-mongering, that something big will happen and the B’s were the subject of much talk.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
But seemingly by sheer willpower, Meredith holds out her hand, which sends the liquid back in the opposite direction toward Britani.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Here’s hoping the good weather holds out for at least a few more weeks.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds out
Verb
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But the decisions that determine whether an organization survives are not those decisions.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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Part photography, part sculpture, and part installation, AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH positioned itself within the rise of right-wing populism, asking how the personal intersects with—and survives—the political.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Unlike the high school recruiting process, the portal window lasts about two weeks — not months (or in some cases, years).—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Khan says the conversation is shifting toward how long denim lasts and what happens at the end of a garment’s life.—
Catherine Salfino,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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An upbeat party atmosphere prevails inside the Wiener Stadthalle arena and in the separate Eurovision Village fan zone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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With Tehran engaged in high-stakes peace negotiations, the outcome could determine which faction prevails in the next phase of the Islamic Republic.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
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It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
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Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20out. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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