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
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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With its distinctive, hornlike snout and protrudable jaws, the pink-skinned living fossil is the only surviving representative of a family lineage that dates back nearly 125 million years.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
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Reaching that age after surviving the Holocaust is nothing short of a miracle.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Sunday marks 100 days since the war in the Middle East began, and the conflict continues to drive substantial volatility across all asset classes in every region of the world as a lasting peace deal remains elusive.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
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Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Verb
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But while the Netherlands is alive in the FIFA World Cup, orange will be the prevailing hue at the training facility in Riverside.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
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Until now, the prevailing logic has been that only supermassive black holes could whip up winds powerful enough to lay waste to the largest galaxies.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Well, American public -- people do because their paychecks are not keeping up with their bills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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The Center for Retirement Research maintains a National Retirement Risk Index, which estimates how many workers are at risk of not keeping up their standard of living in retirement.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Investors will be looking for confirmation that production of its newest chips is on schedule and that long-term customer contracts are holding up, as well as whether increasing capacity from Samsung and SK Hynix starts to threaten the tight supply that has powered Micron's rally.—
Alicia Park,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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The long view The expectation of a lower enrollment trend holding up is one of the key factors likely to translate into higher cost estimates as insurers draw up 2027 rates.—
Julie Appleby,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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