HOLDS Synonyms: 412 Similar and Opposite Words

holds 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold

as in grips

to have or keep in one's hands this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder

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as in retains

to continue to have in one's possession or power she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest

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as in thinks

to have as an opinion "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"

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as in contains

to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

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as in has

to keep in one's mind or heart still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted

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as in owns

to keep, control, or experience as one's own the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years

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as in accommodates

to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

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as in grasps

to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms please hold my arm on these slippery stairs

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as in considers

to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state

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as in regulates

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside hold your temper until you hear the whole story

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as in aims

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal held the camera on the actor throughout the scene

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holds

2 of 2

noun

plural of hold

as in clasps

the act or manner of holding make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on

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as in strongholds

a structure or place from which one can resist attack the ruins of an ancient Roman hold

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as in controls

the right or means to command or control others the government has no hold over where we live and work

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as in jails

a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life

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outsides

as in understandings

the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action

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as in imprisonments

the state of being held in lawful custody a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location

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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 holds

Verb

Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice holds the NFL record with a catch in 274 straight games. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 The Security Council has been unable to take action to end the conflict because permanent member Russia holds a veto. — Antoni Slodkowski Reuters, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026 At one moment in the film, Rosario is with his young sons at the dinner table and holds a bundle of sticks in his hands to illustrate the importance of worker solidarity. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 Catholic teaching holds that life must be defended from conception until natural death. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 Swift’s four Best Direction VMA wins holds the record, ahead of David Fincher’s three. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 Simultaneously a tumor and a light source, the refulgent motif holds grief and release. — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Chemical tests showed the nanoparticles formed strong Zr–O–P bonds with the monolayer, creating a dual-anchoring network that holds the interface firmly together. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026 The community decides whether the creator’s recommendation holds any weight. — Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

The duo walks away from this skirmish, though not unscathed, as Samjad quickly and economically sets up a blistering saga of stylish reprisals with no holds barred. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026 Two more holds for Zverev later, and Shelton hadn’t broken the German’s serve in 63 service games. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 While holds are still being converted to orders, buyers estimate that this season’s upfront average should come in at around $52,000 per unit, which translates to a 10-year pricing decline of -69%. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The second of those holds negated a first down and eventually forced them to punt. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 The holds came as three patients in Novartis trials of the CAR-T rap-cel died from a dangerous immune system reaction, Endpoints adds. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 There aren’t proper holds, just shallow dishes for the hands and feet. — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026 The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday struck down one of those holds. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 If the direction of travel holds, the marginal buyer of gold for the next ten years is somebody who doesn't care about the price and isn't going to sell. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds

Verb

The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
New Orleans is facing an unusual weather combination as Tropical Storm Bertha moves along the northern Gulf Coast while dangerous heat grips the region.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Definition of grips

Verb

For all its trials and tribulations, Chicagoland retains enviable advantages vis-a-vis other metro areas, but its growth over more than a decade seriously lags many of those peer regions.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
China Arms reported that the Type 99B retains the Type 99 family’s 125 mm smoothbore gun, autoloader and three-person crew configuration.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of retains

Verb

JPMorgan's trading desk thinks that Warsh will have to toe a fine line for the stock market to rise.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Yet one of China’s leading robot startup founders thinks there are still a few years before robots truly break into the public consciousness.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of thinks

Verb

It was discovered that the organic material inside these ancient space rocks contains pristine chemical signatures from the earliest days of our Solar System.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Many advocates and lawmakers have complained that the system updates too slowly and contains too much inaccurate or missing information, allowing ICE to shield the locations of detainees for days or weeks.

— Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

Belarus still has 912 political prisoners, including 20 journalists, according to the Viasna human rights center.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
There are 795 rooms here, including 58 suites, and every one of them has a private lanai (a Hawaiian balcony or veranda) with either a garden or an ocean view.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of has

Verb

Pokémon card prices have surged 1,350% since 2020, according to an index compiled by Collectors, which owns card grading agency Professional Sports Authenticator, CNBC previously reported.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
Miguel Angel Flores owns a food truck near the city and said he, too, has been affected by the fear surrounding immigration enforcement.

— Ivan Taylor, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of owns

Verb

Its flexible modular design accommodates up to 1,000 kilometers of range and adapts easily to both charging and battery swapping.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
This compact design even has a pop-up table, while this clever 2-in-1 sofa bed effortlessly accommodates overnight guests.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of accommodates

Verb

Only truly sophisticated taste, in this code, grasps the superiority of deprivation over the more ethnic notions of actual comfort and good food.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Clients are looking for a partner who grasps their objectives, assists with key financial choices, and adapts alongside them as their circumstances shift, said Scott Stearsman, head of Premier and branch banking at Truist.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026