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
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
Another found a pilot holding out an iPad as passengers deplaned trying to squeeze out a few last pennies by asking for tips.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2026
And that’s better than holding out for the dream job and not working at all, like so many Gen Zers are.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Community support and a potential lifeline The Myerses are still holding out hope that their carrier will cover the procedure, but in the meantime, a group of friends launched a GoFundMe page to try to raise $50,000 to help pay for the procedure in cash.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Baltimore County police are still holding out hope of solving the homicide investigation of Morgan State student Deborah Scott, who died 50 years ago.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Vahidi is believed to hold hard-line views more likely to be associated with holding out for additional American concessions in negotiations, continuing to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage to impose economic penalties across the globe, and refusing to give up their nuclear program.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
The strategic calculus, for both countries, is about holding out longer than the other.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Another found a pilot holding out an iPad as passengers deplaned trying to squeeze out a few last pennies by asking for tips.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2026
And that’s better than holding out for the dream job and not working at all, like so many Gen Zers are.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Community support and a potential lifeline The Myerses are still holding out hope that their carrier will cover the procedure, but in the meantime, a group of friends launched a GoFundMe page to try to raise $50,000 to help pay for the procedure in cash.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Baltimore County police are still holding out hope of solving the homicide investigation of Morgan State student Deborah Scott, who died 50 years ago.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Vahidi is believed to hold hard-line views more likely to be associated with holding out for additional American concessions in negotiations, continuing to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage to impose economic penalties across the globe, and refusing to give up their nuclear program.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
The strategic calculus, for both countries, is about holding out longer than the other.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out
Verb
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Nearly all of the surviving health-care facilities in the northernmost area fell on the wrong side of the partition.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Based on the remnants of the three surviving original examples, Todeschini’s weapon combines an incendiary mixture wrapped in flammable cloth that is then encased in pitch.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Both are durable, standing up to the summer heat and rains, often lasting well into late fall or early winter.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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Asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin said a meeting was possible only once a lasting peace deal was agreed.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The prevailing thought is that White is referencing billionaire venture capitalist Joe Lacob, and his wife, Nicole Curran.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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This made the proceedings of the meeting— a discussion of financial crisis in the midst of extended financial stability— a vivid illustration of the tensions inherent in prevailing views about money.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In addition to the existential problems of the products being produced in the Valley, for Glatzer there’s the logistical issue of keeping up with the extremely fast pace of technology.—
Amanda Champagne-Meadows,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Nevada Irrigation District says the increases are necessary to fix aging infrastructure while keeping up with rising costs.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, there’s more than wood holding up the Marpole.—
Stefan Ionescu
May 12,
New Atlas,
12 May 2026
-
Encouragingly, consumer spending appears to be holding up, for now.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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