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
But Kennedy's surprise could indicate that the team is holding out hope Bregman will stick with his current contract or at least would let the Red Sox know more about his thinking before any decision is made.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Sellers, meanwhile, are holding out.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 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
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Sellers, meanwhile, are holding out.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 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
-
See where the cast of the fan-favorite film ended up after surviving Herrington High's alien invasion.—
Keith Langston,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
At Miramontes’ May 9 arraignment, the prosecutor said those surviving victims identified him as the homicide suspect based on his tattoos and a police photo lineup.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Multigenerational travel can be one of the most rewarding ways to explore the world, offering opportunities for grandparents, parents, and children to share experiences and create lasting memories together.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
-
This should have created a GRB lasting mere seconds, however.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The approximately 40,000 older workers who have benefited from it annually in recent years have earned their area’s prevailing minimum wage as a stipend while working part time.—
Cal J. Halvorsen,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Matsura’s photographs stand in sharp contrast to this powerful, prevailing myth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
This opens up numerous applications, Ibrahim says, proudly holding up a vial of the yellow-brown slush in the lab.—
Sandy Ong,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share