Synonyms of hold
-
as in to grip 
-
as in to keep
-
as in to think
-
as in to contain
-
as in to have
-
as in to retain
-
as in to accommodate
-
as in to grasp
-
as in to consider
-
as in to regulate
-
as in to aim
-
as in grip
-
as in stronghold
-
as in sway
-
as in contact
-
as in jail
-
as in understanding
-
as in imprisonment
-
Synonym Chooser
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
Related Articles
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sway
the right or means to command or control others
the government has no hold over where we live and work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
The Angels held the third-worst batting average (.229) and fourth-worst on-base percentage (.301) in MLB a year ago.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 20 June 2025
The day that exhibition was scheduled to open, however, shelter-in-place orders were in effect, placing the show on hold.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Plus How to Install One to Support Pollinators 10 Plants to Grow with Zinnias for a Pollinator Friendly Garden
Bee Cups: A Pollination Innovation
Among the innovations gaining attention are Bee Cups: Handmade mini porcelain containers that hold a teaspoon of water for pollinators.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
The Angels held the third-worst batting average (.229) and fourth-worst on-base percentage (.301) in MLB a year ago.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Noun
Several companies have put their listing plans on hold given weak investor sentiment and the bleak macroeconomic outlook, despite having received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 20 June 2025
The day that exhibition was scheduled to open, however, shelter-in-place orders were in effect, placing the show on hold.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
-
One hand hovers above her swollen belly; the other grips the tripod leg of her large-format Deardorff.—
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
-
An arm with suction can grip a case or tote, pull it out, and ergonomically present it to a worker at an order selection station.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Grateful for their progress and will continue to keep them in our prayers.—
Peter Aitken
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
-
So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time The band’s guitar-heavy music, inspired by U.K. New Wave group the Jam, is what keeps those live shows enthralling.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
Keith thought his luck had run out after scratching the first two puzzles on his $500,000 Ca$hword 2nd Edition ticket.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
However, most thought that use of police and incarceration as avenues to do so was misguided.—
Katherine LeMasters,
The Conversation,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
After new growth is visible on kangaroo paws, fertilize with any complete fertilizer (containing N-P-K, an abbreviation for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
19 June 2025
-
The Singaporean government said servers potentially containing AI-powering Nvidia chips shipped from the United States to Singapore had ended up in Malaysia, but that their final destination was unknown.—
AFP,
Fortune,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
Drew cited that Formula E eco-friendly car racing now has 500 million fans as an example.—
Joan Michelson,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Their most recent release, Hop, earned them the distinction of being the first artist to have their first six charting albums debut at No. 1, according to Billboard.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
For example, by day 70, Manhattan condos retain almost 97% of their original asking price, while Manhattan townhouses have already slipped to 92%.—
John Walkup,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
McVay will be retained for a further period to give strategic advice to the new CEO and also lead in the short to medium term on all of Pact’s political and campaigning work.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
Most judges cannot accommodate an evidentiary hearing the same day.—
Wendy Hickey,
Boston Herald,
22 June 2025
-
Three or four hotels will accommodate all of them, and only 30 of Venice’s 280 water taxis have been reserved.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
To answer that, grasping the concept first should be the right starting point.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
These robots could move, grasp, and handle items just like human workers.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share