HOLDS Synonyms: 412 Similar and Opposite Words

holds 1 of 2

verb

Definition of holds next

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

Featuring the show’s slogan over a sunny pop of color, this sturdy ceramic mug holds a generous 15 ounces of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, and is your Immunity Idol against a dull routine. —

Brittany Anas, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026 According to Karen Wheeler-Hall, Rothe’s owner and CEO, the firm holds a portion of an $814 million contract to provide NASA with videography, photography and other multimedia services. —

Brandon Lingle, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026 But if the ceasefire holds and negotiations are successful, the world could see an Iran that, at least, is no longer a menace to its neighbors. —

Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026 The pro-military bloc holds nearly 90% of the seats in the two-chamber legislature. —

ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 Khalil was born in Syria to a Palestinian family and holds Algerian citizenship through a distant relative. —

Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Duke Gardens also holds its annual Harvest Festival that month. —

Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026 The Savile Row tailor holds a Royal Warrant for its luxury menswear. —

Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026 If tradition holds, there will be a sketch where other members of the club make cameo appearances and present him with the jacket. —

Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026

Noun

Adam, who generally works the eighth inning, was tied for the team lead with 65 appearances and was second in the major leagues with 30 holds when he got injured last season. —

Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026 Incorporating other core-strengthening exercises, like side planks, bird dogs, dead bugs, and suitcase carries, can help reinforce the same muscles and, ultimately, prolong your plank holds. —

Christa Sgobba, Health, 3 Apr. 2026 The launch team has a series of pre-planned holds, including one at the 40-minute mark and the 10-minute mark. —

Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026 What other surprises de Sitter holds are yet to be seen, but the landscape seems to be ripe for insights, Loparco said. —

Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026 Of the 67 analysts tracked by Bloomberg who are covering Microsoft, 63 have buy ratings, while three have holds and one rates it a sell. —

Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 Sasaki moved to the bullpen for the playoffs and recorded three saves and two holds. —

Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 Both dates were already reserved on the Comscore calendar by the studio with untitled holds. —

Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds

Verb

DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup challenging the leaders of Silicon Valley, posted a cluster of job openings for specialists in agentic artificial intelligence and other positions, as enthusiasm for the technology that can carry out tasks without human intervention grips China.

— Saritha Rai, Bloomberg, 24 Mar. 2026
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