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
Thornton has served as the announcer for Wheel of Fortune since the 2010 death of Charlie O’Donnell, who previously held the post. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026 Features that hold a child's attention and increase engagement are frequently mistaken for fostering genuine learning, the report found. — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
In July, the trade was put on hold pending the outcome of the NBA’s investigation. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 As part of the appeal, the Attorney General’s Office asked that Winmill’s decision be put on hold pending further court proceedings. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 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
  • Researchers have built versions that grip tree branches, cling to rough walls, and even latch onto moving vehicles, but ice – especially steep, unpredictable glacier ice – had remained one of the field's toughest holdouts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Stock Chart IconStock chart icon In the lead-up to the 1997 crisis, markets were gripped by tech optimism amid the advent of the internet.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • In a rebuttal argument, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo pointed to a scrapbook Davis kept containing articles about Shakur.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Details of the contract have been mostly kept secret, as both companies said the agreement contained confidential business information.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • The work could also help researchers study other materials where strong electron interactions are thought to play a role, including high-temperature superconductors.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There have been some limited cases in which noncitizens have been criminally charged for voting or attempting to vote, including in Michigan, but it's been rare and not thought to have altered the outcome of any elections.
    — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • The lawsuit filed by two former employees contains allegations that are false, misleading, and unsupported by credible evidence.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The lawsuit, first reported by the Times of San Diego, contains previously unreported details about the shooting and the events leading up to it.
    — Will Carless, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • The confusion could muddy the narrative of having the best models in the market that OpenAI would no doubt like to present ahead of a possible 2027 IPO.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Its rich, satisfying lather has a light citrus scent to make wash days feel just a little more elevated.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • The Village Board voted to limit information collected from the cameras to be shared within Illinois only and retain data for only seven days, according to its agreement with the sheriff’s office.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And despite England reverting to the 11pm cut-off, clubs in Germany, France and Italy have all retained the earlier time of 8pm (local time, 7pm BST).
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Custom inscriptions could be accommodated, but off-site, noted owner Donna Muhr.
    — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Original barn torn down The original barn was torn down and replaced with a rustic white structure with high ceilings, natural wood beams and enough space to accommodate around 200 guests.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • The rest of The Disappearers tries to grasp the trauma visited upon the actors.
    — Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Spinoza’s work is famously difficult to grasp, which is perhaps why John seems so stymied in his writing.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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