HOLDING OUT Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

holding out

verb

present participle of hold out

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

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 Now, the family of one Canton, Georgia woman is holding out hope that she will be found as rescue officials continue to search through debris left by one of the most severe natural disasters in the region. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The state has already sued one sheriff's agency for holding out. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 Rossum is holding out hope that the pair will give romance a try. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 One of those holding out hope is kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her home at age 14 in 2002 and rescued nine months later. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026 Forwark is holding out for hers — especially after watching her best friend, who’d been on dating apps since 2012, meet the love of her life on Hinge this year at 40. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026 The Toronto Blue Jays have been holding out for a hero, just one bat to carry an offence desperate for star production. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Rodri is getting more expensive for FC Barcelona City appears to be holding out for €80 million indeed. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out

Verb

The mayor also asked New Yorkers to keep the surviving victim in their thoughts and wish them a full recovery.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
These products are only available to active service members, veterans and surviving spouses.

— Dan Simms, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of surviving

Verb

Connection, wellbeing, and growth are foundational at Patina, shaping experiences that leave lasting impressions which resonate well beyond your stay.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
In return, Imax gets a percentage of the box office over a long-term contract, typically lasting at least 10 years.

— Kamaron McNair Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of lasting

Verb

There’s a prevailing sentiment among critics right now that the second season of Adults has been a significant improvement on season one.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
The company has evaluated markets based on demographics, prevailing rents, land costs, accessibility, nearby healthcare and retail, surrounding residential neighborhoods and existing competitive supply.

— Nia Bowers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of prevailing

Verb

One challenge is keeping up with tech that is always evolving.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Companies in this space routinely warn investors that this is an unpredictable source of business risk, since selling a consumer product globally means keeping up with an ever-shifting global safety regulation patchwork.

— Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of keeping up

Verb

Analysts also underscored that all cylinders of the Indian economy were firing, with high-frequency indicators showing that consumption and investment in the country were holding up.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The Bay Area buying spree is the clearest manifestation of a nationwide trend of sales of upper-end properties largely holding up better than sales of less expensive homes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026