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
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Recent Examples of holding out
For those holding out hope that Clark will be able to return to the court, the verdict has already been turned in.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The games, messy negotiation tactics and the threat of holding out from regular-season contests simply became too much of a hassle to keep around.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
But Pollania is holding out for better times.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
According to Mari, the union is simply holding out for pay and benefits on par with other Boston-area trash companies and Republic Services is refusing to bargain.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Americans hit hard by inflation and rising costs are still holding out hope for a possible stimulus check in 2025.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The games, messy negotiation tactics and the threat of holding out from regular-season contests simply became too much of a hassle to keep around.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
But Pollania is holding out for better times.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
According to Mari, the union is simply holding out for pay and benefits on par with other Boston-area trash companies and Republic Services is refusing to bargain.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Americans hit hard by inflation and rising costs are still holding out hope for a possible stimulus check in 2025.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out
Verb
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Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at a local church and the sole surviving guest of the lunch, told last month's hearing that the death of his wife had left him bereft.—
Alasdair Pal,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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The courtroom thriller dramatizes the first international tribunal against surviving Nazi leaders, probing not only their crimes but also the nature of evil itself.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From top-tier broadcasters like Scripps to major sports and entertainment events, their campaigns merge creativity, technology, and audience engagement in ways that leave a lasting impact.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Having lasting appeal is good for creating a stable business, and having an affluent customer base helps with margins.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The prevailing scientific explanation for the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen was a Swiss geologist Émile Argand’s theory, which was revealed in 1924.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
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While the future of work may be uncertain, one prevailing belief among small-business owners is that AI is not just a passing trend.—
Eyal Lifshitz,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Other transformative forces include do-it-yourself tech, the end of customization, the complexity of matrixed organizations, and the challenge of keeping up with ever-shifting regulatory compliance.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2025
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The replacement of this infrastructure isn't keeping up with population growth, and the global economic downturn is affecting that.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Joined by cohost Craig Melvin, the 53-year-old anchor was innocently interacting with fans at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza on Wednesday when Melvin spotted a woman holding up a poster of Guthrie sporting her '90s-era black bob.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
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Attendees gathered to listen to speakers, with many holding up signs in support of the Workers Over Billionaires' ethos.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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