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
The annual four-day event has been held every May in its namesake region of Scotland since 2008. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Rookie Malik Muhammad, in his NFL debut, got flagged for holding but also had a strong tackle in the open field for a loss. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
Stifel upgrades Intuitive Machines to buy from hold Stifel upgraded the stock following earnings. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026 The diagnosis was the beginning of a run of hospitalizations and mental health holds. — Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 13 Aug. 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
  • Extreme heat has now left most of England gripped by drought conditions that are impacting harvests.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For decades, Shakur's unsolved killing has gripped hip-hop fans.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Entering the second half, Atlanta kept the energy going and extended their lead to 25 points in the third quarter.
    — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Cam Smith had the speed to leg out an infield single, but if Basabe could keep the ball in the infield, that would be more than enough.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Part of that will depend on whether Black, whom the new staff thinks has the physical dimensions to be a high-level nose tackle, ends up playing well over the center, which would allow the Steelers at times to shift Benton over.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The Guayrá was still covered in a thick mist at that early hour, but the man was out in the middle of the square, looking down into the well and thinking sleepily about something.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • According to police sources, witnesses said two men threw two bottles containing an unknown substance into the deli.
    — Allen Devlin, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The proposal is for one building that would contain three studio apartment homes, 35 one-bedroom apartment homes, and 36 two bedroom apartment homes.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • This assortment features best sellers including the 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra, which has support, comfort adjustable straps and no-show double-layer back.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • White Water's diminutive cocktail bar has awesome bottled cocktails served in proper glassware that make for the perfect sundowner to carry across the boardwalk to soak up golden hour over the Pacific.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • Restorations have allowed the hotel to retain its historic charm while adapting to modern comforts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Colts retained Pierce on a four-year, $114 million contract in March, which is the richest free-agent receiver contract in NFL history.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • The state has allocated 4,845 units to Newport Beach to plan for, but the city has approved zoning and development standards that could accommodate up to 8,174 new homes.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Games will also need to accommodate millions of fans traveling around Southern California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • This is supposed to be the part of the game Allen is weeks, even years, away from really grasping.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Payton has talked routinely in camp about Coleman being further along than other first-year backs in his ability to grasp pass-protection responsibilities.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hold

Nglish: Translation of hold for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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