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
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 gap between those people and the 80% still holding out isn’t philosophical.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Even so, the Hall has kept holding out against Eighties/Nineties rock.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
The strategic calculus, for both countries, is about holding out longer than the other.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The Hawks sat most of their regulars on Sunday, holding out Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga, CJ McCollum and Onyeka Okongwu.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Maybe the governor was simply ahead of his time, holding out for our lemon pepper wing taste test — only the best from Georgia.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Ubel says some were holding out for lower prices this spring, only to see the price of the most common nitrogen fertilizer, urea, spike close to 30% when Iran shut down shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, halting close to half the world's fertilizer trade.
—Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
The White House is holding out hope for a bipartisan deal on artificial intelligence legislation this year despite Democratic opposition to its framework.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
The gap between those people and the 80% still holding out isn’t philosophical.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Even so, the Hall has kept holding out against Eighties/Nineties rock.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
The strategic calculus, for both countries, is about holding out longer than the other.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The Hawks sat most of their regulars on Sunday, holding out Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga, CJ McCollum and Onyeka Okongwu.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Maybe the governor was simply ahead of his time, holding out for our lemon pepper wing taste test — only the best from Georgia.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Ubel says some were holding out for lower prices this spring, only to see the price of the most common nitrogen fertilizer, urea, spike close to 30% when Iran shut down shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, halting close to half the world's fertilizer trade.
—Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
The White House is holding out hope for a bipartisan deal on artificial intelligence legislation this year despite Democratic opposition to its framework.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out
Verb
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Then the Covid pandemic virtually halted travel and all airlines experienced deep losses, only surviving through the help of an industrywide federal bailout.—
Donald Judd,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
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Air Canada’s two pilots, Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, have been credited with saving the lives of the 72 passengers and the two surviving crew members on the plane.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In at least two cases Taylor has seen, the relationship between the child and parent suffered lasting damage.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
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As Democrats look toward the next election cycle, the question is no longer whether the party is shifting on Israel, but whether that shift will turn one of Washington’s most durable bipartisan issues into a lasting political fault line.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Artificial Intelligence has evolved from a theoretical concept to a prevailing element of daily life.—
Kemba Walden,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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And despite the whitewashed canvas and angular Swiss lighting, the prevailing sense is not overly precious—this is kick-off-rainboots-and-curl-up territory.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Even for Silicon Valley startups, keeping up with the pace of change is no easy feat.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several feature her holding up Ironman finisher medals or plaques.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
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In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency had consistently certified Tehran was holding up its end of the bargain.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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