hold 1 of 2

verb

ˈhōld How to pronounce hold (audio)
Definition of holdnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to contain
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to accommodate
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

Synonyms & Similar Words
8
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in to consider
to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state

Synonyms & Similar Words
10
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal held the camera on the actor throughout the scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hold

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the ruins of an ancient Roman hold

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sway
the right or means to command or control others the government has no hold over where we live and work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hold different from other verbs like it?

The words accommodate and contain are common synonyms of hold. While all three words mean "to have or be capable of having within," hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

When is it sensible to use accommodate instead of hold?

The words accommodate and hold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

When would contain be a good substitute for hold?

While the synonyms contain and hold are close in meaning, contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.

the can contains a quart of oil

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 hold
Verb
Misreads of license plates leading to innocent people being held at gunpoint and in one case attacked by a K-9 stirred up further concern, said Max Isaacs, director of law and policy at the New York University Policing Project. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 He was surrounded by family, twelve sets of hands holding his lifeless body, sending him onward with heartache and love and stunned disbelief. — Dr. Lucy McBride, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
The standards say a person may not be held in a hold room for more than 12 hours. — Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 Hilton has reportedly been placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
  1. grip
  2. keep
  3. think
  4. contain
  5. have
  6. retain
  7. accommodate
  8. grasp
Verb
  • The dramatic reappearance of the rusting wrecks has become one of the most striking visual reminders of both Europe’s wartime history and the severe drought currently gripping much of the continent.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But in recent months and years, a sense of hopelessness has increasingly gripped those still remaining on the island.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Entering the second half, Atlanta kept the energy going and extended their lead to 25 points in the third quarter.
    — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Cam Smith had the speed to leg out an infield single, but if Basabe could keep the ball in the infield, that would be more than enough.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Despite Schaffer’s praise of his acting chops, Lewis doesn’t think the ex-POTUS will be rushing to add more credits to his IMDb page.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • It’s made of premium—think fine-gauge fibers that don’t itch—merino wool, a naturally thermoregulating material.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • Aid agencies say mistrust, misinformation about Ebola, and resistance to restrictions on traditional burial practices have fueled hostility toward health workers and complicated efforts to contain the outbreak.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • While conducting a raid on his home Monday, federal agents seized 14 devices, including a hard drive and USB drive containing child pornography.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • The bedroom is on floor one, the first door on the right (that door, by the way, has three peepholes carved seemingly at random), and is bedecked in reddish wood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Nixon surrendered 50 receptions in coverage and had 72 tackles (58 solos).
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • The separation was amicable, with TNA reportedly trying to retain her.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The deal caps a year-long process after the two companies last July retained Wells Fargo to explore a potential sale.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has attempted to accommodate the protesters by offering Fedorov an alternative position in the government, Dickinson says.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This pantry, in addition to offering generous space for kitchen supplies, is ready to accommodate a first-floor laundry.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • Many Marylanders would rather be enjoying the autumn season and adapting to new routines instead of grasping the full implications of an overtly partisan law.
    — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This is where the irrationality of antisemitic conspiracy gains no purchase among a reasoning and pragmatic populace; where government is led by people who grasp, and embrace, the seriousness of their responsibilities.
    — Rory Lancman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasp

Phrases Containing hold

Browse Nearby Words

hokum
hold
hold a brief for
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hold

Nglish: Translation of hold for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All