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
The unscripted business has been holding out hope that under Wiseman and Holland, Paramount+ will become another major buyer of reality formats and series to rival the likes of Netflix and the broadcast networks.
—
Peter White, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Shah Alam, dressed in a hoodie, walks toward the officers, occasionally holding out his hand.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Will the conversation in Indianapolis lead toward Pickens holding out of offseason activities?
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
Athletes such as Rettenegger are holding out hope for 2030.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Brendan Morrow Speaking to NBC News, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are holding out hope that Nancy Guthrie is alive.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
In the meantime, Musto said that PennDOT keeps holding out for sunshine.
—John Shumway, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
But this was largely attributed to buyers holding out for better prices that may yet follow and the overall market remains resilient.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Jones continues holding out hope for a title run.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Jan. 2026
Peter White, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Shah Alam, dressed in a hoodie, walks toward the officers, occasionally holding out his hand.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Will the conversation in Indianapolis lead toward Pickens holding out of offseason activities?
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
Athletes such as Rettenegger are holding out hope for 2030.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Brendan Morrow Speaking to NBC News, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are holding out hope that Nancy Guthrie is alive.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
In the meantime, Musto said that PennDOT keeps holding out for sunshine.
—John Shumway, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
But this was largely attributed to buyers holding out for better prices that may yet follow and the overall market remains resilient.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Jones continues holding out hope for a title run.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding out
Verb
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Filip Hronek surviving fine without Quinn Hughes Before the Quinn Hughes trade, Filip Hronek had a 47 percent xG while scoring at a 42-point pace.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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History buffs will appreciate the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, a 1920s estate with tropical charm, and the Stranahan House Museum, the city’s oldest surviving home.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But several rounds of peace talks hosted by Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement, and the two sides have occasionally traded fire since then.—
ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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But several rounds of peace talks in Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement, and the two sides have occasionally traded fire since then.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The prevailing view was that any debate within our side would become ammunition for the right.—
Ben Appel,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
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For years, the prevailing assumption was that college was the safest route to stability—even as tuition climbed and outcomes grew less curtain.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Felician University women’s softball team plays its home games on the field and has played a key part in keeping up maintenance.—
New York Daily News,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Dipping enrollment and rising labor and operational costs have led to revenue not keeping up with expenses, district office staff have routinely said.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This storage rack fits onto most car roof racks, capable of holding up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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Other Democrats protested by holding up signs and wearing statements on their clothing or walking out of the chamber altogether.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20out. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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