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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
In fact, the Fed's rate-setting committee signaled a plan to raise rates once more this year, before holding steady in 2027. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026 As of May, there were more than 634,000 voters in the district, and Republicans held an advantage. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 19 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
  • What happened—which can be reconstructed from messages that the agents sent one another and from traces of their own internal reasoning, known as chain-of-thought records—makes for gripping reading.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Snag-free bristles gently grip hair for a smooth, seamless glide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • In its evolution, resulting in eight ships of varying sizes and amenities, Oceania Cruises keeps its finger on the culinary pulse, staying current with food and drink trends.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • During the ensuing pursuit, the Lexus kept its lights off, reached speeds up to 65 mph and went airborne multiple times, the report says.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Even if the relationship isn’t fake, something about Bronwyn’s newfound fame (or, rather, adjacency to fame by way of Lisa Barlow) may have altered her brain chemistry into thinking this is a normal way to navigate and present a new relationship.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The mistake is thinking the key is the same thing as ownership.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • The glasses contain the displays and sensing hardware, while the external puck handles much of the computing and power.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Today, the mechanisms that contained the initial energy shock are faltering.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 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
  • For all its trials and tribulations, Chicagoland retains enviable advantages vis-a-vis other metro areas, but its growth over more than a decade seriously lags many of those peer regions.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Competitive compensation helps Broward recruit and retain the talented teachers and education professionals our children deserve.
    — Roberto Fernandez III, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • The kitchen is roomy enough to accommodate large groups when entertaining.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Scale is undoubtedly part of the challenge, as is ensuring the availability of the infrastructure needed to accommodate medium- and large-scale productions, strengthening technical training, and fostering talent across the industry.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • Before altering the entire landscape, new leaders should delve deeply into the current organizational context, consider professional opinions from technology teams, and grasp the insights on existing pain points.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Congress ultimately adopted this image in the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, with a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows in one foot, and an olive branch representing peace in the other.
    — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 17 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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