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"
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of holds
Oscar Schwartz,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Each carafe holds 35 ounces and features a narrow neck for easier pouring.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
The Lower Ninth Ward currently holds about one-third of its pre-Katrina population.
—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The University of Missouri typically holds a ceremony for its most recent Hall of Fame class sometime in September.
—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
Jordan Karp of Jordan Karp LLC holds the $10 million listing.
—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
Nouvel is Jolie's former investment firm, which holds what was once her 50% stake in the winery.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
But while his father holds a consultancy job, Gustaf became a footballer, with support from his family.
—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
But maybe that earlier movie also holds the key to this one.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Hannah Fingerhut,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
The ruling was issued as part of a class-action lawsuit filed by noncitizens challenging ICE’s recent practice of making arrests at immigration courthouses and detaining people for extended periods in facilities designed for short-term holds.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
If $200 holds and semiconductor sentiment stabilizes, NVDA could begin rebuilding toward the $225 resistance area.
—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
The team compared the vessel’s size, along with the position of its masts and cargo holds, against blueprints of the Hōfuku Maru, built in 1919.
—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
In other cases, DCA flights may be delayed by temporary holds as coordinated through air traffic control communications.
—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Our office is ready for any uptick in crime the World Cup may bring, including requesting passport holds for visitors charged with serious Class A or B felonies and increasing on-call staff to ensure efficient review and filing for crimes that may be committed overnight or over the weekends.
—
Ben Wheeler
june 12,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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
Verb
The self-image of a predominantly Anglo civilization on the far side of the world—a distant, lucky country insulated from global conflict—no longer holds.
—
Oscar Schwartz,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Each carafe holds 35 ounces and features a narrow neck for easier pouring.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
The Lower Ninth Ward currently holds about one-third of its pre-Katrina population.
—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The University of Missouri typically holds a ceremony for its most recent Hall of Fame class sometime in September.
—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2026
Jordan Karp of Jordan Karp LLC holds the $10 million listing.
—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
Nouvel is Jolie's former investment firm, which holds what was once her 50% stake in the winery.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
But while his father holds a consultancy job, Gustaf became a footballer, with support from his family.
—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
But maybe that earlier movie also holds the key to this one.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Noun
Over a decade, more than 1,000 people have died across the country after police subdued them through means not intended to be lethal, such as physical holds, Tasers and body blows, an investigation led by The Associated Press found.
—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
The ruling was issued as part of a class-action lawsuit filed by noncitizens challenging ICE’s recent practice of making arrests at immigration courthouses and detaining people for extended periods in facilities designed for short-term holds.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
If $200 holds and semiconductor sentiment stabilizes, NVDA could begin rebuilding toward the $225 resistance area.
—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
The team compared the vessel’s size, along with the position of its masts and cargo holds, against blueprints of the Hōfuku Maru, built in 1919.
—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
In other cases, DCA flights may be delayed by temporary holds as coordinated through air traffic control communications.
—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Our office is ready for any uptick in crime the World Cup may bring, including requesting passport holds for visitors charged with serious Class A or B felonies and increasing on-call staff to ensure efficient review and filing for crimes that may be committed overnight or over the weekends.
—
Ben Wheeler
june 12,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
This Laura Geller hydrating primer creates a silky-smooth canvas that grips your foundation for all-day wear.
-
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.
Verb
-
Centralized high-scale manufacturing retains advantages for standardized products with stable demand, long runs and low sensitivity to distance.
-
As a result, your body retains more heat, increasing the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Verb
-
William thinks like the future king.
-
But Swift has had enough Best Original Song attempts to know that her star power does not have as much influence over the Music Branch as the outside world thinks.
Verb
-
This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2.
-
Their newsletter contains so much encyclopedic data about the podcasting industry.
Verb
-
Just like white vinegar, lemon juice has an acidity that can get rid of dullness affecting your whites.
-
Miami has 12 roster spots filled and will add two or three other players on value deals.
Verb
-
There is some fluctuation year to year in the baseball itself, though the league now owns and controls production of the on-field ball.
-
Oklahoma City owns picks 12, 17, and 37 entering the draft.
Verb
-
The yacht accommodates up to 10 guests across five cabins and includes a spa, sauna, gym, jacuzzi, and expansive indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces.
-
The pillows also feature cooling gel memory foam and a design that accommodates side, back, and stomach sleepers.
Verb
-
His eyes and smile are too wide, and his right hand grasps the air.
-
There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it.
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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