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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hold
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2026
The incident has raised urgent questions about who should be held responsible, and prompted the government to declare three days of national mourning beginning Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Those ticket sales mark a 48% decline from its debut, a strong hold for a blockbuster of this scale.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
After his death, people across the country, including in Idaho, held memorials for him, while others who spoke out against Kirk were fired from their jobs or faced other consequences.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2026
The incident has raised urgent questions about who should be held responsible, and prompted the government to declare three days of national mourning beginning Tuesday.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
However, following news of the board terminations, the search for a new CEO has been put on hold, according to Petrie.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Those ticket sales mark a 48% decline from its debut, a strong hold for a blockbuster of this scale.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The male wolf, named Neukgu, burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8, prompting a search that gripped the nation and raised fears about his safety.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Video footage shows motorists in the southeast African country of Mozambique waiting for hours at fuel stations as shortages grip the country, with lines of traffic stretching for blocks and drivers traveling between multiple stations in search of petrol or diesel.—
Yarden Segev,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Iran and the United States to keep their commitment to maintain a ceasefire, after both countries ended historic face-to-face talks without an agreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Made with a lightweight cotton fabric, this bucket hat will keep your face cool on balmy days.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Pickleball players enthused over new courts are likely to be the only residents — outside of municipal employees — who think San Diego is even slightly better run now than in 2011.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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Rowing has given me a platform to be competitive and really challenge how people think about me.—
Krystle Rich,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to a spokesperson for BMC, there was a fire in an electrical room at the hospital but it has since been contained.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Eligible users should have received a notice in the mail or email containing a notice ID and a confirmation code, which is needed when selecting a payment method online.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bank had around $50 billion in exposure to private credit in the first quarter, part of its broader lending to non-bank financial institutions, according to Reuters.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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Aged 33, the Belgian still has plenty of years ahead of him but in Friday night’s semi-final against PSG, Navarro showed the future is bright in that position for the Spanish club.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Secure systems like these are often set to expunge questions and answers from their memory once a session is done, so classified information is neither used for later training nor retained in any memory.—
Erik German,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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Lowry hit the cup-retaining putt at the Ryder Cup last year at Bethpage after spending most of the weekend partnered with McIlroy.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The whole company was structured to accommodate sales of 8 million cars.—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Orban has consistently accommodated Russia and clashed with the European Union (EU).—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That was a hard thing to grasp.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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Odenkirk also grasps what to do and what not to do on camera.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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