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
Boston's loss was the first time the team was held scoreless since May 30, a span of 13 games. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 Cachepots range in size from small enough to put on a shelf with an African violet tucked inside to oversized containers that could hold an 8-foot parlor palm. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
However, 12 out of 25 analysts deem the stock a buy or strong buy, while the remaining 13 deem it a hold, LSEG found. — Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 During the Eaton fire, the laboratory shut down for two weeks — which is not insignificant for a lab that tracks hold-ups in days. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 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
  • The abundance of Southern California had clearly gripped the man.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The effort is part of a growing pro-play movement emerging as the next phase of the ed-tech backlash that gripped classrooms across the country, and spurred cellphone bans and screen time limits.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Notably, the bill allows members to keep their current portfolio and leaves officials in the executive branch untouched.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Truly everything has been thought of and carefully considered.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • When presented together and thought juxtapositionally, the works launch visitors onto an emotional pendulum that pivots from exhilaration to unease and distress.
    — Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • In my own experiment, Claude was able to recognize that my genome file did not contain enough information to make reliable conclusions regarding genetic risk scores for common diseases.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Just minutes later, Meyer transferred $10,000 from a fund account containing only investor money to the Meyer Global Partners account.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • Book the white, cream, and silver Diaghilev suite, which has double doors that open onto a small balcony with the bay of Positano at your feet.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • On Friday, the pope strongly reiterated the Church's pro-life teachings, criticizing initiatives to allow assisted dying for those who have incurable illnesses.
    — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • Public Clothing retains the Derek Lam brand, which continues to be designed by creative director Robert Rodriguez.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Mulch is an excellent way to conserve resources, retain moisture, add nutrients to the soil, and boost garden health and appearance.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Towed behind a vehicle and expanded on-site, the tiny cabin can also be extended with additional modules to provide more space and accommodate more people.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The vast majority of places where concessions are the most common are in the Sun Belt, a major buyer’s market as a result of a wave of post-pandemic construction to accommodate an influx of remote workers seeking lower mortgage rates.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • The phone, the radio, the television, the fax, the cell, texting, video calls, AI—who among us truly grasps its underpinnings?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Moaning, sobbing, pleading, the woman grasps the hand of her daughter, Ema (Mercedes Morán).
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 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 3 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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