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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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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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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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
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
Even after sending a haul of draft capital to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo, the Heat holds three of its next four first-round picks after this year.
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Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Rumors take hold From the nearby lighthouse, visitors craned for a better view of Swift’s mansion, a sprawling white home perched atop a rocky bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
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Leah Willingham,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
The kids, meanwhile, took selfies, while one appeared to be holding a red canister.
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Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
Even after sending a haul of draft capital to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo, the Heat holds three of its next four first-round picks after this year.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Noun
Schlossberg was the hardest candidate to get a hold of.
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Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Rumors take hold From the nearby lighthouse, visitors craned for a better view of Swift’s mansion, a sprawling white home perched atop a rocky bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
—
Leah Willingham,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Exceptional heat is gripping Europe.
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After briefly losing his pro status in 2024, van Dongen returned to Q-School and regained his pro card, despite battling hand issues that prevented him from being able to grip his darts.
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Following their arrival, word spread among law enforcement at Kansas City Stadium (aka Arrowhead) that the King and Queen were en route — and the path to the VVIP (yes, very very) entrance was cleared by FBI officials, who kept fans away from the area.
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Not surprisingly, the number keeps rising.
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Iran is thought to have 972 pounds of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, according to the IAEA.
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In the top of the first inning, Rangers catcher Elias Diaz pointed at first base thinking there would be a first-base umpire, when the umpire was in the middle of the diamond.
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Firefighters, meanwhile, quickly contained the blaze to a 10-by-10-foot area.
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Each kit contains five breakfasts and five lunches.
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Mbappé, one of two men to have a hat trick in a World Cup final, scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals in France's 3-1 tournament-opening victory against Senegal.
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During a childhood fight, Aemond had his eye cut out by Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and stole her family’s ferocious, powerful red dragon Vhagar.
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That means the county can retain millions of dollars in property taxes, which the Resident Advisory Committee ensures transparency and accountability of.
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Republicans also have a shot at taking the governor’s office and retaining at least one legislative chamber.
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While earlier concepts called for flip-up chairback seating throughout the stadium, engineers determined the historic venue's existing structure could not accommodate those seats without significantly reducing capacity or requiring major reconstruction.
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The Department of Homeland Security is changing the guidelines for Iran’s national soccer team ahead of its third World Cup match on Friday to accommodate extra time afforded to other countries in the tournament, an agency spokesperson said.
Verb
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But the combatants kept grasping and tugging each other off-balance.
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My eyes darted back and forth, trying to grasp the imposing silhouette in its entirety.
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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