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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Shania Russell, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some versions of the tale hold that the song's name came from a stripper Roth knew.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Shildt pointed out that the Padres had held a lead past the fifth inning just twice in the last 10 games — and that the team had won both of those games.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
But those plans were scrapped after the Disney-Fox merger, when Marvel put mutants on hold and turned its attention to expanding its interconnected multiverse of movies and TV shows.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some versions of the tale hold that the song's name came from a stripper Roth knew.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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Intense heat wave in the West has lifted The heat wave that gripped the Pacific Northwest has eased, and the National Weather Service said highs temperatures in Seattle might not reach 80 degrees.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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That’s in part because Kamiya has tapped into the malaise that grips Japan, especially among the under-50 crowd who are fed up with the status quo.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Buying Russian oil saved India billions of dollars on import costs, keeping domestic fuel prices relatively stable.—
AFP,
Fortune,
27 Aug. 2025
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Then keep scrolling to shop more blanket deals at Amazon.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Astronomers have confirmed the existence of more than 5,800 exoplanets, but billions are thought to exist, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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This biomimetic approach to AI development would position Malaysia to export not just technological products, but technological philosophies — ways of thinking about intelligence that emerge from ecological rather than industrial metaphors.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Traded in a variety of forms, lithium after it is mined sells as spodumene (containing close to 6% lithium metal).—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The policy proposal, contained in the state’s Master Plan for Aging, comes three years after Hochul, a Democrat, issued an executive order creating a panel to map out the needs of New York’s aging population and suggest how best to serve older adults.—
Jake Pearson,
ProPublica,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even though Josh and Arteta have a good relationship, stemming back to when Arteta played for the club, Lewis is the conduit between the club and ownership.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just three offensive starters have returned in what is otherwise an almost brand-new roster, and Rogers has done his utmost to retain a certain mystique about his plans.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Aug. 2025
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Kia retained clunky flat-panel HVAC/audio controls that require you to push a small icon of a fan or a triangle to switch an adjoining set of flat touch points from climate to audio functions and vice versa.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Seaports will have nearby seabed dredged and quays constructed to accommodate naval and transport vessels.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
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Bluegame Yachts The yacht carries a maximum of 14 passengers, and has a lower deck plan for three ensuite cabins accommodating 6 guests in three cabins.—
Kathleen Turner,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Paddles flashed almost in unison as the riders grasping them made their way down to the river side of the sandbar.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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Can any country lay claim to grasping that just-right balance of luxury and indulgence better than Italy?—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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