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

The bar makes a perfectly balanced drink, and brunch holds its own with plenty of light and rib-sticking options alike (the steak and eggs were my favorite) and strong locally roasted coffee (both pour-over and espresso options). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Brazil’s attorney general last week accused the US of undermining Brazilian democracy — a central theme for incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who holds a razor-thin polling lead over Flávio Bolsonaro. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Finally, whether the whole argument holds is still a lawyer’s call. — Dhyey Mavani, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The brand holds three patents, including its signature DermShield technology that allows skincare brands to increase the concentration of active ingredients in a product without typical side effects like irritation and redness. — Ellen Thomas, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 Fabric that moves through a downward dog and still holds its shape on a blustery commute is genuinely hard to find. — Zoë MacKay, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 So the fact that Zoe Kazan’s East of Eden is his first job since a notable 2024 that included Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers and Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders suggests the epic family drama holds particular meaning for him. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 Brazil holds general elections every four years, and voting is mandatory. — Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026 Madonna’s Truth or Dare era holds a special place for the pro. — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Noun

Range Control imposed safety check-holds across adjacent training sectors to clear the zone and protect surrounding operations. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 The recommendation matches the Wall Street consensus, where five of seven analysts rate Ambiq Micro a buy or strong buy, with two holds, LSEG data shows. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 If the demand Gupta describes holds, the atelier could show that an independent house from India — or, perhaps, anywhere in the Global South — can establish a fruitful global presence. — Sujata Assomull, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 There are holds installed all over a window, leading to moments of awkward eye contact with passersby outside. — Sarah Rose Siskind, Curbed, 28 Sep. 2026 Before moving it to cloud servers, test whether a searchable archive can meet access and retention needs, including legal holds. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 While the most onerous traffic delays — the 20-minute holds — are largely over, Kionka said, motorists should still expect some impacts for the remainder of the project, including occasional traffic shifts, closures and detours. — Robert Tann, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2026 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

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

Knowing someone's baseline characteristics is not the same as knowing what that person thinks about this decision today.

— Leslie John, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
What to read next For Mars, the team thinks that this balance was reversed, with roughly three-quarters of its mass appearing to come from planetesimals, and the remaining quarter from pebble accretion.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of thinks

Verb

Advertisement Their collection contains nearly a hundred pieces by around 40 artists from the Black diaspora, including fellow honoree Sherald.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
In addition to that central pool, the spa complex contains a tepidarium (warm relaxation room), Byzantine hammam (steam room), salt cave, Watsu pool, yoga and fitness rooms, and an area for massages and other treatments.

— CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

The Upland resident owns Young’s Automotive in Covina, according to the statement, where he is accused of placing the cameras to record unsuspecting victims using the bathroom.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The design now spans bracelets, earrings, rings, and watches, and is said to rank among the highest performing products in the Richemont group, which owns the maison.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of owns

Verb

The nearly 100-year-old route accommodates all budgets and travel interests, an à la carte menu of nature, food, history and recreation.

— David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
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