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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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"
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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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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
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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
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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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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
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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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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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holds
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
For girls, Cheryl Miller still holds the most points scored at 41 when Riverside Poly won Division I in 1982 at the Oakland Coliseum over Los Gatos 77-44.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The Renaissance-style bust is supportive and flattering, while the waist holds you in without restricting your movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Under the current system, after the committee determines there is probably cause that a complaint against a lawmaker is true, the committee holds a public hearing with attorneys, experts and witnesses that the public can attend.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
The release arrives as Fox Sports holds the English-language rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Conejo and his dad ended up at a detention center in Dilley, Texas, that’s become the main location where ICE holds families.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
James already holds the league’s career record for playoff games with 292.
—Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
As of Friday afternoon, the team holds eight picks — a first-rounder, second-rounder, third-rounder, fifth-rounder, sixth-rounder and three seventh-rounders.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
Her mental health began to suffer, and following two involuntary psychiatric holds and losing custody of her sons in 2008, Jamie Spears was granted a temporary conservatorship over his daughter.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
As of March 4, 280 people had been released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement from LMDC, while another 67 incarcerated people have holds, according to Collins.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Start with three to six holds of 10 to 30 seconds, and build total time gradually.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
At the center, library staff will manage public computers, offer a small browsing collection, provide seating and allow patrons to pick up and return holds.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Adventurous souls tried tackling a rotating rock-climbing wall, which slowly spun as the climber stretched for the blue, pink and purple holds.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The art of grappling consists of throws, trips, sweeps, clinches, ground fighting, submission holds and takedowns.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
The hydrogel acts like a containment layer that holds bacteria close to the electrode while allowing liquids to flow through.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
For girls, Cheryl Miller still holds the most points scored at 41 when Riverside Poly won Division I in 1982 at the Oakland Coliseum over Los Gatos 77-44.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The Renaissance-style bust is supportive and flattering, while the waist holds you in without restricting your movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Under the current system, after the committee determines there is probably cause that a complaint against a lawmaker is true, the committee holds a public hearing with attorneys, experts and witnesses that the public can attend.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
The release arrives as Fox Sports holds the English-language rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Conejo and his dad ended up at a detention center in Dilley, Texas, that’s become the main location where ICE holds families.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
James already holds the league’s career record for playoff games with 292.
—Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
As of Friday afternoon, the team holds eight picks — a first-rounder, second-rounder, third-rounder, fifth-rounder, sixth-rounder and three seventh-rounders.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Another Facebook post focused on the frustration of $100 holds placed on debit cards when paying at fuel pumps.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
Her mental health began to suffer, and following two involuntary psychiatric holds and losing custody of her sons in 2008, Jamie Spears was granted a temporary conservatorship over his daughter.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
As of March 4, 280 people had been released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement from LMDC, while another 67 incarcerated people have holds, according to Collins.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Start with three to six holds of 10 to 30 seconds, and build total time gradually.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
At the center, library staff will manage public computers, offer a small browsing collection, provide seating and allow patrons to pick up and return holds.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Adventurous souls tried tackling a rotating rock-climbing wall, which slowly spun as the climber stretched for the blue, pink and purple holds.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The art of grappling consists of throws, trips, sweeps, clinches, ground fighting, submission holds and takedowns.
—Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
The race begins with a rigorous climb up a mountain on skis fitted with a special fabric skin that grips the snow as the athletes sprint uphill.—
Rob Marciano,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The community held a candlelight vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie's safe return as the baffling case grips the nation.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clay soil is heavy and retains water longer than sandy soils.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harrell thinks the courts could be deferential to the White House in that respect, but that increasing the duty to 15 percent could invite greater legal scrutiny and make the argument more wobbly.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2026
-
For anyone who thinks DERM focuses on saving trees and bees alone to the exclusion of growth, Hefty has a different conclusion.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dark red markings on a gray panel, meanwhile, typically indicate that the ammunition contains an irritant or riot-control agent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Her Amazon cart contains the ageless, expensive-looking building blocks of any cool girl’s closet.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who has watched the last decade of merger mania in Hollywood has good reason to be skeptical.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The 21-year-old has already done the same outside Balmain and Acne Studios that day, and has plans later to stand outside Rick Owens.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
McKinney was Double-A Binghamton’s pitching coach last season and thus owns deeper histories with many of the Mets’ younger arms.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Nick Martinelli is a two-time Big Ten scoring leader and owns the two best scoring seasons in Northwestern history.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Its four-point lift handle also accommodates people of different heights.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The park accommodates different energy levels and age ranges in one location — coasters for the adrenaline crowd, a water park for people who want to relax, and kid zones for families with young children.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Sanders grasps the politics of an NFL locker room and the mindset of NFL veterans better than anybody.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
When a word feels too abstract, Jacobs shifts the phrasing, lowers the tempo or elongates a syllable until Siena grasps it.—
Reylee Billingsley,
AZCentral.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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