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

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

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

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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

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

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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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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

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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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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
Thornton has served as the announcer for Wheel of Fortune since the 2010 death of Charlie O’Donnell, who previously held the post. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026 Features that hold a child's attention and increase engagement are frequently mistaken for fostering genuine learning, the report found. — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
Season three was put on hold during the 2023 strikes, but filming had begun by May 2024. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 At least one survivor reported hearing a loud explosion from the cargo hold before the blaze spread rapidly through the ferry, Cayabyab told a press conference. — CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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 recent plunge has renewed the conversation around the literacy crisis gripping the nation's education system and the debate over COVID-19 school closures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For six weeks Lindsay Clancy’s trial gripped the nation, taking over newscasts, podcasts and social media chatter.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • But after injuries kept him out of game action for 1,241 days, the kid who came up as a can’t-miss ace finally made his MLB debut this year, albeit as a reliever.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Havana is having trouble keeping the lights on and providing food for their people.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Carlsson doesn’t think about his impact much, but his colleagues and contemporaries sure do.
    — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • A couple of decades ago, films about Musk and Holmes probably would have framed the pair as forward-thinking entrepreneurs and architects of a new era.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • The budget is likely to retain a focus on devolution, greater public control of public services and more private sector partnerships, but contain little to change the macro outlook, Monks said in a note Monday.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Most of the genome is non-coding and contains a mix of things, including centromeres, which help ensure chromosomes are divided evenly between cells, and caps that protect the chromosome ends.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • Today, 55% of the city's residents have Middle Eastern ancestry, and the mayor, police chief, and schools superintendent are all Muslims of Arab descent.
    — Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Hong Kong once had a vibrant civil society marked by protests and a freewheeling press.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • The budget is likely to retain a focus on devolution, greater public control of public services and more private sector partnerships, but contain little to change the macro outlook, Monks said in a note Monday.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Had Woltemade not headed out, Newcastle may have had to pivot to an alternative, or opt to retain funds for January.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Custom inscriptions could be accommodated, but off-site, noted owner Donna Muhr.
    — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Original barn torn down The original barn was torn down and replaced with a rustic white structure with high ceilings, natural wood beams and enough space to accommodate around 200 guests.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • The rest of The Disappearers tries to grasp the trauma visited upon the actors.
    — Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Spinoza’s work is famously difficult to grasp, which is perhaps why John seems so stymied in his writing.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of grasp

Phrases Containing hold

Browse Nearby Words

hokum
hold
hold a brief for
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Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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