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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thinks
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strongholds
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others
the government has no hold over where we live and work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holds
Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The aircraft already holds the world altitude record for electric planes in its weight class, having reached 24,000 ft (7,315 m).
—Omar Kardoudi
june 12, New Atlas, 12 June 2026
Musk also holds roughly 85% of shareholder voting power.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 12 June 2026
The atmosphere reflected the significance soccer holds within many Mexican and Mexican American households, where support for the national team is often passed down through generations.
—J.m. Banks
june 12, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
This looks excellent, and currently holds an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Cal Fire still holds a modest annual budget for wildfire mitigation work.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Zulfi is an iconoclast and a hustler, a man who dreams of opening a Muslims-only version of Uber and who, even in the face of Shah’s elitism and English society’s broader wariness, holds onto an unshakable optimism.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
That’s why God invented trunks and cargo holds.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
If Villegas’ lead holds, national Democrats are expected to quickly rally behind the progressive candidate as the 22nd District is viewed as critical to the party’s efforts to reclaim control of the House.
—Mathew Miranda
june 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Gómez has two holds, a save and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Twins.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ask your plan administrator about distribution holds.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
These holds and delays expose DACA recipients, like Arguelles, to losing their jobs and face the possibility of deportation.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
The scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
While big redevelopment conversations continue behind the scenes, many Detroiters are still waiting to see what the future of the property holds.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Verb
Lead drama actor holds essentially steady at 78, nearly matching last year’s 77, when 134 names crowded the ballot.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The aircraft already holds the world altitude record for electric planes in its weight class, having reached 24,000 ft (7,315 m).
—Omar Kardoudi
june 12, New Atlas, 12 June 2026
Musk also holds roughly 85% of shareholder voting power.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 12 June 2026
The atmosphere reflected the significance soccer holds within many Mexican and Mexican American households, where support for the national team is often passed down through generations.
—J.m. Banks
june 12, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
This looks excellent, and currently holds an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Cal Fire still holds a modest annual budget for wildfire mitigation work.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Zulfi is an iconoclast and a hustler, a man who dreams of opening a Muslims-only version of Uber and who, even in the face of Shah’s elitism and English society’s broader wariness, holds onto an unshakable optimism.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Noun
This indicates that in more than half of the cases, individuals encountered by local police were subsequently subject to federal immigration holds or detainer requests following an arrest or stop.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
That’s why God invented trunks and cargo holds.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
If Villegas’ lead holds, national Democrats are expected to quickly rally behind the progressive candidate as the 22nd District is viewed as critical to the party’s efforts to reclaim control of the House.
—Mathew Miranda
june 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Gómez has two holds, a save and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Twins.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ask your plan administrator about distribution holds.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
These holds and delays expose DACA recipients, like Arguelles, to losing their jobs and face the possibility of deportation.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
The scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
While big redevelopment conversations continue behind the scenes, many Detroiters are still waiting to see what the future of the property holds.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
Together with slight pressure from your foot, the claw head and pedal penetrates soil, grips the weed, and pulls it straight out of the ground from its roots.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Add perlite, pine bark, coconut coir, or compost to indoor potting mix to make a mixture that retains moisture but doesn’t get waterlogged.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Decades later, driving the route still retains an air of midcentury Americana, with rustic, throwback park lodging like the Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The surest sign of improving standards in Ghana and other African countries, Hughton thinks, will be when diaspora players born elsewhere in the world opt to follow their roots.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
But none have watch parties for the games, and Domingo thinks his regular clientele is avoiding the area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Whey protein isolate, a more refined vesion that contains at least 90% protein, is 150% more expensive than last year, the company said.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
-
It is widely accepted that a teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and one billion bacteria, thus the name and rallying cry of the Forum.—
Louise Schiavone,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The populist Swiss People’s Party, which has the most seats in parliament, has stirred up and fostered anti-migration sentiment over the years, notably about an influx of workers from European Union nations.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
In fact, their entire relationship has an eerie, performative aura.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Wonder also owns and manages the kitchens, and handles delivery after buying GrubHub in a deal valued at $650 million that closed in 2025.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
-
Depending on the circumstances, the type of debt involved and the assets a borrower owns, creditors may have other avenues to collect what they're owed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
As Paxton's office alleges, a gender-neutral changing room that accommodates multiple occupants at once is expressly prohibited by law.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The compact helicopter features head-to-toe panoramic windows and accommodates two guests, departing directly from Qualia’s helipad.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
-
Nonetheless, Desai grasps that, in some form, the AV is coming.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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