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
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
Goodall spent some of her final days speaking about combating climate change at New York Climate Week 2025, which was held from Sept. 21-28.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
But the purchase is on hold because the agency must approve the condo project, and the staff from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development who handle approvals are furloughed.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
Goodall spent some of her final days speaking about combating climate change at New York Climate Week 2025, which was held from Sept. 21-28.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
The contingency plan says nearly all of those employees who continue to work will be paid using sources other than annual appropriations, which are on hold during the shutdown.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
But the purchase is on hold because the agency must approve the condo project, and the staff from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development who handle approvals are furloughed.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The latter, in particular, has been gripped by the spread of the H3N2 virus in the country’s north.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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Doctors gave Hurtubise the choice of of shaping his hands to do common tasks such as tying his shoes, or to grip a steering wheel.—
Michelle Pemberton,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Individual bulbs need to be spaced at least an inch apart, so keep that in mind when choosing the width of your container.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
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Such pleasurable pains, at their most chronic, or their most carnal, can keep Lang occupied for the length of a stanza.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Tom also learned from Maeve that Robbie and Cliff (Raúl Castillo) thought the Episode 4 drug meetup was going down at a different park than the FBI sting operation was set to take place at.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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Brad’s choice is always thinking about who is the person that is going to make this experience a more enjoyable one, rather than who is the best person for the job.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The following contains light spoilers for the Season 3 premiere of Elsbeth.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
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State regulators ultimately denied Gershman and Citimark a permit to encroach on the portion of the development containing wetland, but warehouse construction is proceeding on the remaining parts of the 150-acre development.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The facility, which had about 80 employees, according to Hickman County Mayor Jim Bates, is about an hour southwest of Nashville, on the Hickman and Humphreys County lines.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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Forgery is also about persuasion, and certain forgeries have specific attributes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Things changed in January when management announced that DuPont would retain its water business — not only to accelerate the timing of the electronics spin, but also to enhance the overall attractiveness of the remaining legacy company.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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Standard whey protein powders derive their protein content from a substance called whey protein concentrate—whey protein that retains the fat and carbs of the original whey, according to Dada.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Higgins said the facility is built to accommodate 1,210 detainees and has on average 1,330.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
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Given all the anxiety, sometimes sellers who are willing to accommodate buyers’ demands still can’t overcome their cold feet.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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European allies have expressed dismay, even impolite horror, at Witkoff’s failure to grasp or recall key details of his discussions with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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However, these recent checks hadn’t helped Curtis grasp anything from the original device manufacturers (ODMs) in terms of AI ramps.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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