as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
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Recent Examples of hold out
There is reason to hold out hope that Moss might return, since June (Offred, as she is known in the book) does make an appearance in The Testaments novel.
—
Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 27 May 2025
Despite a timeline that initially ruled him out for six to eight months, both Hutchinson and the Lions held out hope for a potential return in the Super Bowl had the team made it that far.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The defenders of the plant held out for over a month under siege, despite running out of food, potable water, ammunition and other supplies.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 16 May 2025
The incredibly high expense has many homeowners holding out for Elevate Florida funding.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 27 May 2025
Despite a timeline that initially ruled him out for six to eight months, both Hutchinson and the Lions held out hope for a potential return in the Super Bowl had the team made it that far.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The defenders of the plant held out for over a month under siege, despite running out of food, potable water, ammunition and other supplies.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 16 May 2025
The incredibly high expense has many homeowners holding out for Elevate Florida funding.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold out
Verb
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Her child survived and, for a short while, reigned as king.—
Erica Stern
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
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The $56 million might even survive the president’s budget.—
Pat Beall,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Though school hours in California might range from about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Olsen said drivers should still be cautious when passing by a school zone because after-school programs can last until 6 p.m.—
Angela Rodriguez,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
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Jennifer Wills, President and Chief Growth Officer of Kelleher International, has seen the challenges of HNW CEOs, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists firsthand, dedicating her career to combating loneliness with lasting love.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Set boundaries that range from strict legal compliance that can’t be ignored or changed to issues where common sense prevails.—
Shep Hyken,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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Cooler heads prevailed on Friday, with Musk and Trump refraining from slinging direct insults at each other.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20out. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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