held

past tense of hold
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as in contained
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in accommodated
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 held The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024. Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025 That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025 Mack held 35 actress and five producer credits during her career, according to the statement posted to CaringBridge. Chris Lau, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025 That’s different from another type of equity offering held by the NFL. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025 One of the duties Lelakes has held at the YMCA is overseeing facilities across the county of San Diego for maintenance and capital improvement projects. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025 The docuseries will be available to stream beginning Thursday on Prime Video, but an early screening of the second episode was held Monday for a collection of friends, family, business associates and media. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025 During 9/11, people walked down the stairs in single file and held the door open for each other. Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025 Ensign said the Department of Homeland Security is complying with the law during deportations, and people could file challenges individually in Texas, where they were held before being sent to El Salvador. arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held
Verb
  • Every minute, every second, has to be spent with one’s device clutched in one’s hand.
    Big Think, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Children as young as pre-K ran for cover, dove beneath pews or clutched their classmates as teachers shielded them from the barrage, acting instinctively to protect them.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Canales retained Evero in 2024 with the thought that the defensive coordinator would essentially be the head coach of the defense.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Fixed and variable factory labor is carefully managed, with core labor retained full-time and trade labor flexed as needed.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The exact cause is also unknown, but it is believed to be related to inflammation in the facial nerve, potentially due to viral infections.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The cause of the fire is believed to be of natural origin.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On a sunny Tuesday morning, 35-year-old Rita Guerrero stepped out from her door on North Mariposa Street, lively pup Olive barely contained by her leash.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Police quickly contained the situation as around 150 mostly young demonstrators chanted anti-police slogans in a largely calm atmosphere.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And the new role had a different sort of perk, in the form of compensation.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But Kraft ran Harris over, rumbled to the 7-yard line and two plays later Josh Jacobs had a 2-yard TD run.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The store, owned by Spencer Allen and Tracy Quigley, sells plants, hydroponics kits, vintage books, and handmade items.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The requirement for Staveley to clarify her intentions is because of the fact that 13 per cent of the shares in Tottenham Hotspur Limited — those not owned by ENIC — are in theory publicly tradable.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The airline reserves the right to refuse transportation to plus-size passengers who cannot be safely accommodated.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Where Mosquito Supper Club is a five-course $135 prix fixe menu, Saint Claire’s concise menu, served on lovely, mismatched china, is à la carte for parties of six and under, with larger parties accommodated on a case-by-case basis.
    Beth D'Addono, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This thoughtful composition from Yang Bo was taken in the sky over Nanjing, China during totality, creating the illusion that the blood moon is being grasped in the claw of a vast stone dragon.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The robot must determine where the object can be safely grasped, whether surfaces will slip or break under pressure, and how weight is distributed.
    Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Held.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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