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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding out
With sellers holding out for pre-rate-hike valuations and buyers unwilling to pay them, deal flow essentially froze.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Many buyers have already stopped holding out for a drop.
—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Mowry, now 40, was allegedly holding out for higher pay as the show's lead after previously having agreed to be paid the same as his ensemble castmates.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
But some Democrats are holding out hope.
—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
8 June 2026
The exec is holding out hope for the format continuing to have a life at the network with original programming.
—
Sabrina Reed,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The lack of medical options has worried a lot of infectious disease experts — but some are holding out hope.
—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
20 May 2026
In Kansas City, where some 90% of respondents to the American Hotel & Lodging Association survey reported bookings below expectations, tourism officials are still holding out for a record-breaking number of visitors.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Meanwhile, the Guthries are prayerfully holding out hope for answers amid their grief.
—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Many buyers have already stopped holding out for a drop.
—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Mowry, now 40, was allegedly holding out for higher pay as the show's lead after previously having agreed to be paid the same as his ensemble castmates.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
But some Democrats are holding out hope.
—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
8 June 2026
The exec is holding out hope for the format continuing to have a life at the network with original programming.
—
Sabrina Reed,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The lack of medical options has worried a lot of infectious disease experts — but some are holding out hope.
—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
20 May 2026
In Kansas City, where some 90% of respondents to the American Hotel & Lodging Association survey reported bookings below expectations, tourism officials are still holding out for a record-breaking number of visitors.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Meanwhile, the Guthries are prayerfully holding out hope for answers amid their grief.
—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out
Verb
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The hardliners have emerged with their hands on the levers of power and battlefield command, and their supporters now flood Iran’s streets with daily rallies celebrating a newfound legitimacy forged through surviving the US-Israeli assault.
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Both parties agreed to repay the money that was borrowed, and the death of one borrower generally does not eliminate the surviving borrower's legal obligation.
Verb
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The inaugural flight took place from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France, where test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and copilot Fabrice Dougnac lifted off aboard the Falcon 10X for a mission lasting approximately two and a half hours.
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One solution the report suggests is fully paid leave for fathers - lasting as long as maternity leave.
Verb
-
For several years now, the prevailing narrative around Katy Perry has been that one of the biggest pop stars in the world had somehow lost her magic.
-
The prevailing narrative that wealthy buyers are fleeing New York may be getting harder to sell.
Verb
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DeBolt, who’d been keeping up with his adventures on Facebook, was especially concerned when Alberti faced flooding in Thailand that forced him to wait out dangerous water levels for days.
-
This can sometimes take months and requires keeping up with soil amendments so the plant doesn't revert back to its old hue.
Verb
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In her classic book Atlas Shrugged, Rand used the Greek myth of Atlas holding up the world as a metaphor.
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Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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