1
as in grips
to have or keep in one's hands
this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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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3
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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4
5
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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6
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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7
8
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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9
10
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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11
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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1
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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2
as in strongholds
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
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3
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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4
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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5
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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6
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
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Recent Examples of holds
CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
Whatever the case may be, each one of these bars holds an important part of American history, and should be added to your bucket list.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Shanda also holds a powerful long-term dream.
—Adrienne Farr, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
Argor-Heraeus' CEO Robin Kolvenbach holds one kilo bars of silver and gold at the plant of refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record with 12 World Cup wins.
—Graham Dunbar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
This thinking holds that investors get them out of apartments and into larger rental spaces.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The Burj Khalifa unseated it as tallest skyscraper at 2,772 ft (over half a mile) tall, and still holds the record as tallest building.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
All those great ships, their holds full of human cargo, had been conjured up in an unremarkable spot in present-day Mudchute Park.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The event was livestreamed on Netflix with a 10-second delay so the public could follow closely his daring leaps and no-hands holds.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
That helped add up to 30 holds, tied for the fifth most in the majors behind only the Brewers’ Abner Uribe, the Guardians’ Hunter Gaddis, the Reds’ Tony Santillan and Tyler Rogers.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Purchases using a debit card are authorized against your available balance, which is your current balance minus any pending transactions and holds.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Minnesota Department of Corrections contacted all county jails in the state Monday to ask how many people in custody had immigration detention holds.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
He is also being held on failure to appear charges and several holds for other agencies, including Johnson County, Kansas, Johnson County, Missouri, and Platte County.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
And that's how a '1' seed holds serve a home.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
Women's skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
Whatever the case may be, each one of these bars holds an important part of American history, and should be added to your bucket list.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Shanda also holds a powerful long-term dream.
—Adrienne Farr, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
Argor-Heraeus' CEO Robin Kolvenbach holds one kilo bars of silver and gold at the plant of refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record with 12 World Cup wins.
—Graham Dunbar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
This thinking holds that investors get them out of apartments and into larger rental spaces.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The Burj Khalifa unseated it as tallest skyscraper at 2,772 ft (over half a mile) tall, and still holds the record as tallest building.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Acevedo has been released on bond while Alarcon-Sanchez and Derce Lara have immigration holds, police said.
—Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
All those great ships, their holds full of human cargo, had been conjured up in an unremarkable spot in present-day Mudchute Park.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The event was livestreamed on Netflix with a 10-second delay so the public could follow closely his daring leaps and no-hands holds.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
That helped add up to 30 holds, tied for the fifth most in the majors behind only the Brewers’ Abner Uribe, the Guardians’ Hunter Gaddis, the Reds’ Tony Santillan and Tyler Rogers.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Purchases using a debit card are authorized against your available balance, which is your current balance minus any pending transactions and holds.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Minnesota Department of Corrections contacted all county jails in the state Monday to ask how many people in custody had immigration detention holds.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
He is also being held on failure to appear charges and several holds for other agencies, including Johnson County, Kansas, Johnson County, Missouri, and Platte County.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
And that's how a '1' seed holds serve a home.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
Gold prices continue breaking records as economic uncertainty grips investors.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
When cold weather grips the South for days on end, the thought of a humid summer gets better and better.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The cabin in the woods might be gone, replaced with a Ray Harryhausen–style swords-and-sandals epic, but Army of Darkness retains all of the gonzo energy of the previous Evil Dead.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.—
Lana Ferguson,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When considering long-term use, Alpert thinks about several factors.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Dieu thinks kids may be to blame.—
Tori Apodaca,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Though Proust never came to Ireland, his own work also contains echoes of Irish history and culture that epitomize its polymathic, cosmopolitan spirit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Others on the right have been critical of Bad Bunny’s music catalogue, which exclusively contains Spanish songs.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This rare metal has isotopes — atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons and varying stability — known to have nuclei with complex structures and shapes.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
-
And while Addison Rae has been on our beauty radar for some time, her Best New Artist nomination has her alongside other gorgeous breakthrough talents like Olivia Dean and Katseye.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Chigos owns commercial properties in downtown that would be harmed during another huge flood.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Belichick owns the second-most wins by a head coach in NFL history, going 333-178, including the playoffs.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yet many companies undermine those benefits by choosing automation that accommodates existing packaging, especially when scaling operations.—
Ken Bowles,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Encompassing more than 26,000 square feet, the property accommodates multiple standalone units, including a two-bedroom guest apartment.—
Pueng Vongs,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The nearly colorless imagery really grasps the soul of the moment and the chill of our wintry days.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Until the governor’s office grasps the severity of the problem, and until the health insurers are tasked with stopping the fraud, Girand isn’t optimistic there’ll be much change.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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