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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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
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
In the Bay Area, nearly 60 individual events were held.
—Laura A. Oda, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
But the project is now on hold.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
In the Bay Area, nearly 60 individual events were held.
—Laura A. Oda, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
Well, so what's happening right now in California is Chad Bianco announced that the whole thing is put on hold.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
But the project is now on hold.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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That nine gripped me with urgency to get more people to call for truth and remembrance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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Arsenal would be foolish to write off a player in this kind of form, with this kind of confidence, and gripped by the kind of never-say-die attitude that has characterised a dramatic career.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The play began with Segovia, who got the ball into the path of Ian Fray, who raced it down and kept it in, and passed it directly to Messi’s head.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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Inside, one side of the suitcase features a zipped compartment—useful for keeping toiletries and smaller items contained safely—while the other has a robust compression system with a notably sturdy strap and weighty steel buckle.—
Charley Ward,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What was John thinking before the surface of the water appeared before his windshield, rushing forward at terrifying speed?—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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How many average people have once thought about harming ourselves or others?—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Such comments did little to stop the speculation, despite his contract at Atletico running to 2030 and containing a €500million (£436m; $577m) release clause.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Testing revealed that one of the devices deployed contained triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The brothers had a disagreement a couple of years ago and their friendship has suffered a rift.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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While data centers typically have a decades-long lifecycle, the average lifecycle of a GPU is around seven years.—
April Roach,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To forecast what comes next, a system must retain traces of what came before—but not too much.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
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The joint campaign has focused intensely on destroying and degrading Iran's missile defenses, but Tehran has retained the capability to hit back across the region.—
Mosheh Gains,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plans call for building a facility that can accommodate 350 people, with emergency shelter beds, sleeping cabins, and parking spaces for people who sleep in their vehicles.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The market can accommodate pretty much any Italian food craving, offering everything from antipasto to Zeppole di San Giuseppe (a seasonal specialty dessert).—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But pricing information on hospital websites can be hard to grasp owing to huge data files and the complex way it’s presented.—
Gretchen Morgenson,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
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Atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche grasped the radical implications of this view.—
James O. Cunningham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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