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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4
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
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Recent Examples of hold
David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
On Thursday, the Bank of England held its key interest rate steady at 4% in a move that had been widely anticipated by economists.
—Chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Deutsche Bank upgrades Chewy to buy from hold Deutsche upgrades Chewy following earnings.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting at Chequers, the prime minister's estate in Buckinghamshire north of London.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
On Thursday, the Bank of England held its key interest rate steady at 4% in a move that had been widely anticipated by economists.
—Chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Outgoing payments were on hold, including to the firm’s expensive endorsement partner, LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Deutsche Bank upgrades Chewy to buy from hold Deutsche upgrades Chewy following earnings.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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International headlines often paint Haiti as a nation gripped by crisis — from political unrest and economic hardship to uncertainty about the future and unruly crime.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
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However, with vaccination rates slipping and anti-vaccine misinformation and views gripping the country, health experts fear seeing more of these devastating cases.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Eyes Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best mascaras, brow gels, and eye-shadow palettes.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Adding flip-flops kept it less serious.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect who spent forty-three years working on the Sagrada Família, did not think that his work should compete with God’s, so the basilica will remain a few feet lower than the iconic peak of Montjuïc.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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Pür’s multitasking powder is infused with a host of skincare-grade ingredients to help blur and minimize texture—think retinol, lactic acid, and antioxidants.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This report contains results from surveys and population estimation methods conducted by Fish and Wildlife, Canadian Wildlife Service and numerous state and provincial partners.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
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And while hair perfumes are typically less concentrated and contain less alcohol (to prevent dryness), our testers appreciated that the scent lingers all day long.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sensor handles up to 70Gs of acceleration and has a sensitivity of up to 30,000 dots per inch (DPI).—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
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The remaining 10 analysts have a hold equivalent rating.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The brands that double down on efforts to retain customers through engagement and personalized experiences stand to win on two fronts–retaining more customers while attracting consumers dissatisfied with their current banking experience.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Always in darkness, PSRs are thought to retain water ice that, if present, could be converted into drinkable water, breathable oxygen and rocket fuel.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And the rear seats can be folded down to extend the cargo space, or tipped up to accommodate taller items.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Sep. 2025
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On top of that, a gallery rail system easily accommodates different frame sizes, shapes, weights, and thicknesses, which allows for ultra-layered, completely unique arrangements.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What’s harder to grasp is how Violette_FR Lip Nectar is, in fact, a stain.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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This approach can empower oncologists to instantly grasp a patient's complete treatment journey, fundamentally reimagining how cancer care teams navigate complex patient histories.—
Dr. Taha Kass-Hout,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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