HOLDING OUT Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

holding out

verb

present participle of hold out

as in surviving

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 holding out Clancy’s supporters were divided, some holding out hope the Commonwealth’s highest court would intervene and others coming to accept what would end up being the inescapable conclusion. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Now, the family of one Canton, Georgia woman is holding out hope that she will be found as rescue officials continue to search through debris left by one of the most severe natural disasters in the region. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The state has already sued one sheriff's agency for holding out. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 Rossum is holding out hope that the pair will give romance a try. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 One of those holding out hope is kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her home at age 14 in 2002 and rescued nine months later. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026 Forwark is holding out for hers — especially after watching her best friend, who’d been on dating apps since 2012, meet the love of her life on Hinge this year at 40. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026 The Toronto Blue Jays have been holding out for a hero, just one bat to carry an offence desperate for star production. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Rodri is getting more expensive for FC Barcelona City appears to be holding out for €80 million indeed. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out

Verb

Siby and a few other surviving coworkers searched hospitals and waited for news.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Variety caught up with Topic film and documentary head Ryan Heller to discuss the company’s secret sauce, surviving without M&A and what’s next.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of surviving

Verb

But for those who are wrongfully detained or deported, the experience can leave lasting trauma, mounting legal costs and consequences that take years to resolve.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
The sting of the title-game loss will remain, but a little reminder from the past — directly from the players who experienced it — certainly has the chance to leave a lasting impact for the future.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of lasting

Verb

Manchester City revenues derived from UEFA reports, adjusted to remove 'other operating income' and converted from GBP to EUR at prevailing rate.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
With the foldable phone getting all the attention, the prevailing thought is that Apple may not show off the standard iPhone 18 models at this event.

— Greta Cross, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026