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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When the issuer also owns the settlement layer, that neutrality survives only as a promise, with no structure forcing it to hold.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Can Johnson rehabilitate such a relationship, whether or not Pritzker’s Bears deal survives the mayor’s attacks?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 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
-
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
-
The American Dream is a myth that claims that great ambition and hard work will be rewarded, but the American Experience isn’t one in which virtue prevails.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
If Musk prevails, the judge could order the unwinding of OpenAI’s 2025 for-profit restructuring, the removal of Altman and Brockman from their roles and up to $150 billion redirected to the nonprofit foundation.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The high-strength nylon exterior is impressively durable, and the water-repellent coating holds up against rain, spills, and everyday wear.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
-
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20out. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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