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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold out
Clooney held out hope that Democratic governors would address the matter with Biden instead.
—
Jake Tapper, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
Instead, many are holding out to purchase a more permanent residence that better suits their long-term needs, marking a generational shift in how younger Americans think about homeownership.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
But the mom-to-be thinks for a moment, then holds out her hand.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 May 2025
Faced with losing its largest funder and most powerful member when the U.S. withdrew from the organization in January, Ghebreyesus is pivoting to make a more nimble WHO focused on establishing health independence in developing nations, while holding out hope for talks with President Trump.
—Time Staff, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Jake Tapper, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
Instead, many are holding out to purchase a more permanent residence that better suits their long-term needs, marking a generational shift in how younger Americans think about homeownership.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
But the mom-to-be thinks for a moment, then holds out her hand.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 May 2025
Faced with losing its largest funder and most powerful member when the U.S. withdrew from the organization in January, Ghebreyesus is pivoting to make a more nimble WHO focused on establishing health independence in developing nations, while holding out hope for talks with President Trump.
—Time Staff, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold out
Verb
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When the first ambulance to arrive on a scene is staffed with three paramedics, the chance someone will survive is 30% greater, Gollan said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2025
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The species is endangered, and infants require constant, skilled care to survive.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
Verb
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The trial is expected to last several weeks, and Judge Arun Subramanian recently confirmed that the trial will most likely conclude before July 4.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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It was scheduled to last a week, but the state hastily shut it down after two days when nearly 300 bears were killed, close to the maximum allowed.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Fear prevailed for over a month as police failed to find a suspect or a motive.—
Jorge L. Ortiz,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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When playing with friends or business associates, which is mostly the way the president plays the game, all sorts of favor-trading can prevail.—
Matthew Purdy,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20out. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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