as in survived
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 held out
Parallel talks resumed in Geneva aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear program and finalizing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but analysts held out little hope of lasting progress in either.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Alysa Liu was hailed as an ice skating prodigy from the young age of 5 and held out a promising future.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 17 Feb. 2026
Any ballot that comes back from one of the 170 voters that the elections office hasn’t been able to contact will be held out and not tabulated to give a voter more time until the March 10 election to receive and submit a new ballot.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Restorers had long assumed that in its original, Laocoön’s arm was held out stiffly at a degree which uncannily recalled a Nazi salute.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
He was held out of Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics due to left knee injury management.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The vote was held open for about 45 minutes as several Republicans held out on casting their votes.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The Bulls were also without three starters, as Josh Giddey (hamstring injury management), Nikola Vucevic (rest) and Coby White (calf injury management) were all held out of Saturday’s game.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
White also could be held out of one game to manage ongoing calf injuries that have limited him throughout the season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Alysa Liu was hailed as an ice skating prodigy from the young age of 5 and held out a promising future.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 17 Feb. 2026
Any ballot that comes back from one of the 170 voters that the elections office hasn’t been able to contact will be held out and not tabulated to give a voter more time until the March 10 election to receive and submit a new ballot.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Restorers had long assumed that in its original, Laocoön’s arm was held out stiffly at a degree which uncannily recalled a Nazi salute.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
He was held out of Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics due to left knee injury management.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The vote was held open for about 45 minutes as several Republicans held out on casting their votes.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The Bulls were also without three starters, as Josh Giddey (hamstring injury management), Nikola Vucevic (rest) and Coby White (calf injury management) were all held out of Saturday’s game.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
White also could be held out of one game to manage ongoing calf injuries that have limited him throughout the season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held out
Verb
-
He is also survived by a sixth child, Ashley.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
He is survived by two sons, David and Eric, and three grandchildren.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Willis, a former third-round pick of the Titans, lasted only two years in Tennessee before he was dealt to Green Bay in August 2024 in exchange for a seventh-round pick.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The following day, nearly all of my friend’s food had spoiled, whereas mine lasted nearly all week.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Team Stars versus World went to overtime before the prior prevailed.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
French Friction prevailed for the second time at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.—
Bob Wisener,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20out. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
