behold

verb

bi-ˈhōld How to pronounce behold (audio)
Definition of beholdnext
1
as in to know
to have a clear idea of to anyone who beholds the immense complexity of life on earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to see
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I opened the window blinds and beheld snow everywhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behold Alice + Olivia’s Spring 2027 collection is a sight to behold. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026 For the past four years, Vogue World has been a sight to behold. — Glamour, 15 Sep. 2026 The polyrhythmic acumen of monster drummer Danny Carey remains a sight to behold. — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 The Keller offense has been a sight to behold so far this season with a pair of 55-point explosions in Week 1 and Week 2. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behold
  1. know
  2. see
  3. understand
  4. notice
  5. recognize
  6. eye
  7. comprehend
  8. spot
Verb
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.
    — Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • Protesters, many of whom have been seen carrying Palestinian flags, have set fire to historic buildings and attacked civilians.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2026
  • American Transmission Company, a utility firm that develops and manages high-voltage transmission lines, has seen rapid growth, in part thanks to the AI and data center buildout.
    — Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Senior lineman/tight end Zavion Brown has noticed Litke’s growth.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • As petrified parents filed into the warehouse-like church nestled in a strip mall and took seats on folding chairs, Michelle noticed a woman near the front, sitting alone.
    — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of notice
Verb
  • Cornyn’s disengagement has irked Paxton’s allies, who recognize Cornyn’s potential appeal to moderate voters — including those Cruz might not be able to reach.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Among that trio was The Mayan, built in 1926 as the home of Elks Lodge 705 and recognized as a rare American example of Mayan Revival Architecture.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of recognize
Verb
  • Two more original Glee cast members are eyeing a return for the Disney+/Hulu reboot.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Newsom, who's preparing to leave office in January and eyeing a 2028 presidential run, argued the mandate would improve workplace collaboration and innovation, which will help government better serve the public.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of eye
Verb
  • No single person can claim to comprehend an EUV machine in its entirety.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • That straining to comprehend the irrational fog of human emotions is the show’s explicit subject only clarifies the problem rather than neutralizing it.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of comprehend
Verb
  • Happy peasants, miserable millionaires Graham first spotted the pattern in China.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The rapper, who turns 40 tomorrow, was spotted heading to an early birthday dinner at Mamo restaurant in New York City, dressed in a look that wouldn’t have been entirely out of place in Moss’s or Miller’s mid-aughts wardrobe.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of spot

Browse Nearby Words

behind-the-scenes
behold
beholden
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behold. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of disparate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All