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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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
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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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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hold
Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Demonstrate that Atlanta's transit system can hold its own while encouraging more people to give it a try.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Plans to demolish a house over 100 years old in the southeast neighborhood of Kleberg to make room for an AutoZone store have been put on hold after residents showed up to protest.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
The school board held its first public conversation about the potential closure of Blanton Elementary School on Thursday night.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Demonstrate that Atlanta's transit system can hold its own while encouraging more people to give it a try.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
The bank upgraded the aerospace and defense stock to buy from hold.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Plans to demolish a house over 100 years old in the southeast neighborhood of Kleberg to make room for an AutoZone store have been put on hold after residents showed up to protest.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Canada was gripped by the World Series last month and early in November as the Blue Jays, the country’s only MLB team, came agonizingly close to upsetting the Dodgers juggernaut.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The raccoon, who had wrapped both paws around the cone and whose legs gripped the bottom of the cone, eventually slipped off and fell back into the water, just as DeLeo got close to pulling him to safety.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The project blends electric mobility with real-time AI while keeping the driver in control.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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But Daniels kept getting hurt this season, managing to start only seven games and getting shut down in December after a series of injuries to his left knee, right hamstring and left elbow.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In retrospect, thinking a guy who was the ninth WR in his NFL draft class would be fantasy football’s WR10 in his second year was a tad optimistic.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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But the actor didn't think the story of his character on all five of the Netflix series' seasons, Will Byers, and Will's longtime friend, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), had been fully wrapped up going into the final episode.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dominique could hardly contain himself in his seat.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Some fruit pits and seeds, like those in apples and pears, contain traces of cyanide, which is harmful to birds.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Boston's David Pastrnak had an assist on Lindholm's goal to extend his scoring streak to four games, with four goals and four assists in that span.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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While past studies have shown that dairy products may have a protective effect against dementia, how specific dairy products affect cognitive health remains unclear.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Save Victoria Park retains hope that the decision can be reversed, saying that applications for the park’s permanent legal protection are still being evaluated.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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Crockett then argued that the criticism reflects Republican discomfort with her appeal to voters Democrats have struggled to retain, particularly those without college degrees.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Officials originally proposed upgrading the city’s largest cricket stadium, The Gabba, to accommodate the Games, though the project’s price tag was heavily criticized.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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The pajamas are available in short, regular, and tall lengths to accommodate different heights and builds.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Americans can understand complex information and grasp the importance of watching trend lines.—
Deborah L. Birx,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
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Ideological innovation within the movement has only accelerated since 2016, leaving political scientists, pundits, and an elite liberal public struggling to grasp MAGA both past and present.—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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