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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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
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Place a clean sheet of parchment paper (the same size as the cake) on top of cake and, holding pan and parchment together, flip over in one swift motion to invert cake onto parchment.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
This will keep curious hands from getting a hold of it.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Tied 1-1 at the end of overtime, the Spartans held a 4-3 advantage in the shootout to take a 2-1 win.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Place a clean sheet of parchment paper (the same size as the cake) on top of cake and, holding pan and parchment together, flip over in one swift motion to invert cake onto parchment.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
What other surprises de Sitter holds are yet to be seen, but the landscape seems to be ripe for insights, Loparco said.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
This will keep curious hands from getting a hold of it.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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This product comes with a lifetime warranty and the handle is easily gripped.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Economic pressures are gripping Americans across the country, but Maryland stands out as a uniquely unaffordable state — in large part due to a complete lack of executive commitment to keep the state affordable and economically prosperous.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The road to the very long lines began in February, when Congress, in resolving a broader government shutdown (the second in four months, impressively), could not agree on how to keep funding Homeland Security.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Wacha kept the Braves off the scoreboard while Salvador Perez provided the offense, hitting his first homer of the season and snapping a personal 15-inning scoreless streak.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With momentum building around women's basketball, some fans are already thinking beyond March Madness.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Aaron thought about writing an op-ed or speaking at a rally, but such gestures struck him as painfully insufficient.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In addition, motions in which the prosecution opposed mental health diversions for two defendants contained similar errors, Stuart wrote.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Jumping Branch fire has spread to 275 acres and is only 30% contained, state officials said Tuesday.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Kings never had the defensive activity to disrupt them much.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Political experts have also pointed out that Proposition 50 passed with a wide margin, with 64% of of voters approving the measure, so the investigation wouldn't have any impact on the results.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mair missed a 3 from the corner with 5 seconds to play for Duke, but the Blue Devils retained possession after the ball went off an LSU player.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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If signed, municipalities retain some say, with provisions allowing cities to stop plans that present deleterious environmental impacts, health and safety risks, or undue burden on infrastructure like sewer or water.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The effective oil blockade has caused blackouts and trash to pile up in the capital, with hospitals struggling to accommodate patients due to the energy crunch.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Entertaining spaces are designed to expand and contract depending on use, accommodating larger groups without feeling oversized when empty.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The White House’s inability to grasp the agency of others — its apparent lack of a theory of mind for everyone outside its walls — gives Democrats, especially, a distinct advantage.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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For a party struggling to grasp levers of power in Washington, DC, the gambit shone a damning, bright spotlight on a controversial and politically complex issue for the GOP for more than a month.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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