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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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
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Although injuries have held him out of 16 games, Curry is still one of the top players in the NBA.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Other earmarks sought by Connecticut, however, will be on hold as Congress works through the final bill to provide full-year for the Department of Homeland Security.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Players were told not to hold the ball for more than two seconds.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Although injuries have held him out of 16 games, Curry is still one of the top players in the NBA.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
The art of grappling consists of throws, trips, sweeps, clinches, ground fighting, submission holds and takedowns.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Other earmarks sought by Connecticut, however, will be on hold as Congress works through the final bill to provide full-year for the Department of Homeland Security.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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In a video that went viral on social media, the girl appeared to grip the chairlift in a desperate struggle as her feet flailed in the air, still strapped to her snowboard.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The community held a candlelight vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie's safe return as the baffling case grips the nation.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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This McGill and Chinese University of Hong Kong grad also has bylines in Architectural Digest, Men's Journal, Town & Country, and Observer—occasionally trading his keyboard for time in front of cameras for brand campaigns or keeping conversations flowing as a panel moderator.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Gabe Gordon and Timothy Gibbons leaned into the Olympics mood while keeping it hot and fun with a collection influenced by ’80s figure skaters, school girls and a whole lot of vintage Americana.—
Irene Kim,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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People think, oh, this is just a nepotism situation.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Lindsey showed that people can do it a lot longer than anybody thought.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Honorable mentions New to the regular concession offerings, the Baja-style fruit cups are a light and refreshing snack containing slices of watermelon, mango, jicama and cucumber and they are garnished with chamoy, lime juice and Tajin.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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Water and moisture resistance Wood and water don’t mix well, and any type of flooring that contains wood will be prone to warping, rot and permanent water damage.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bipartisan skepticism of corporate power comes and goes in America, but the latest wave has roots in the parallel streams flowing from the Great Financial Crisis, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Kids will have a blast at the Seaport Museum next door, especially when exploring the mock-village section and tall-mast whaling ship.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Re-build the agency by hiring and retaining great people.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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According to the American Craft Spirits Association, American craft distilleries rose from 150 to 200 in 2010 to over 3,000 by 2023, and while that number has begun to level off over the past year, the craft whiskey industry retains its strong presence.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ongoing cost of TK is about $3 billion a year; the state has also put $1 billion toward implementing the new program, including building improvements to accommodate younger kids.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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This was partly out of deference to a president who thinks not of enemies but only of potential counterparties to be bargained with, bullied, swindled, or accommodated.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When this happens, it can be retrieved by passing an endoscope into the stomach, grasping, and removing it.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
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Setting aside the fact that the mayor of LA has no control over the Sheriff’s Department, such a proposal appears to have manifested out of his inability to grasp the cruel reality of the federal government’s deportation program.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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