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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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
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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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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
Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
But even though Democrats hold an advantage over Republicans on the voter rolls, New Jersey residents have chosen governors from both parties.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next Family members of the five killed in the attack and at least eight injured service members filed a lawsuit against Fluor, but the case is on hold pending the court’s decision in the Hencely's case, which is expected early next year.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Other apparent daycare employees could be seen trying to get to her after she was placed in the ICE vehicle, with one holding a small child.
—Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
But even though Democrats hold an advantage over Republicans on the voter rolls, New Jersey residents have chosen governors from both parties.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Citigroup upgrades Kirby to buy from hold Citi says the industrial services provider is an AI and data center beneficiary.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next Family members of the five killed in the attack and at least eight injured service members filed a lawsuit against Fluor, but the case is on hold pending the court’s decision in the Hencely's case, which is expected early next year.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Canada was gripped by the World Series last month and early in November as the Blue Jays, the country’s only MLB team, came agonizingly close to upsetting the Dodgers juggernaut.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The raccoon, who had wrapped both paws around the cone and whose legs gripped the bottom of the cone, eventually slipped off and fell back into the water, just as DeLeo got close to pulling him to safety.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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Johnson has kept the House out of session since mid-September after Republicans passed a bill to continue government funding.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
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For more stellar Tupperware and food storage container finds at Amazon, keep reading!—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Despite what many baseball fans think, the Dodgers do have holes to fill in their lineup.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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Here's what analysts think AMD will be announcing.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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By Monday evening, the fire crew effectively contained 30% of this wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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The green husks contain a natural dye that will stain skin, clothes and concrete.—
Randy Moll,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The company has pilot programs in Singapore, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Ovechkin now has eight points on the year despite the Capitals’ disappointing start to the 2025-2026 campaign.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ticket marketplaces that offer more functionality beyond a simple database of listings are more likely to retain customer loyalty.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Most PHEVs still perform well over time Despite the variations between brands, the study concluded that most PHEV batteries retain more than 80 percent of their original capacity after 120,000 miles.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The provocation was at once playful and serious—a way of challenging his audience to stretch toward him rather than accommodating them.—
Ross Benjamin,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
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The information provided to the committee alleges a series of remarkable steps taken to accommodate Maxwell after she was quietly transferred to a medium-security facility in Texas shortly after her meeting with Blanche.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Busing tables, Caesar heard Italian, German, Polish, and other tongues, absorbing their music without grasping the words.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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Walk the Scales of the Universe to grasp the size and distance of the cosmos using the 87-foot Hayden Sphere as your guide.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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