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
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Recent Examples of hold
Les Rubin, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Day trips run easily to Norman Island for lunch at Pirate's Bight, the Baths at Virgin Gorda, or the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke, though the island's interior is what held me.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
The town had been working on a budget and source of funds for new playscapes, then COVID hit and the projects were put on hold until funds from the American Rescue Plan Act became available, said Matt Hoey, Guilford’s first selectman.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
The dollar holds that status because the global financial system still trusts the United States.
—Les Rubin, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Day trips run easily to Norman Island for lunch at Pirate's Bight, the Baths at Virgin Gorda, or the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke, though the island's interior is what held me.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
Russia’s unprovoked aggression has forced millions of Ukrainians to put their lives on hold.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
The town had been working on a budget and source of funds for new playscapes, then COVID hit and the projects were put on hold until funds from the American Rescue Plan Act became available, said Matt Hoey, Guilford’s first selectman.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Over the past week, a highly speculative piece of financial fiction has gripped Wall Street.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
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Manufacturers often put small plastic studs on the soles of turf shoes, which grip the turf and prevent you from slipping on the field.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Try a slower pace for the first hour, and notice how patience steadies your focus and keeps distractions from running the show.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
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The Longhorns were primed to add on to their lead after Casey Borba smoked a leadoff double, but some poor situational hitting behind him kept Texas off the board.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Residents reported hearing sounds of missiles flying over cities in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in what was thought to be a missile barrage from Iran against Israel.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Ricki was 7, almost 8, and kind of in charge, though his playful little sister didn’t think so.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Professor Jian Shi, associate professor in the UH Cullen College of Engineering, said many Americans already hold unused devices that contain valuable materials.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
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Broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, endive, dandelion, cabbage, and chicory contain bitter compounds that stimulate bile production, which supports fat digestion, waste elimination, and hormonal balance—indirectly helping manage acid load.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Freese had eight clean sheets in 31 starts last season on his way to the award.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Crew chief Bill Miller had an earpiece and was in communication with stadium operations, who informed him that there was no danger.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The polymer solar cell is able to retain 97% of its performance after 2,000 hours in air.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
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This was an aberrance by definition and by form; our collective sanity depends on retaining the ability to parse out instances of this kind of ambient shock and pain.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The service here is friendly, helpful, straightforward, and accommodating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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Here’s a look at what streets will be closed or reduced in Fort Worth this weekend to accommodate the event.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These protagonists were classic show-business aspirants who, having come to Los Angeles to be within grasping distance of their dreams, fell, in the interim, into service work.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
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The thing a lot of people don’t grasp is that if the market was right, this would have been fixed a long time ago.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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