holds 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of hold
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as in contains
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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holds

2 of 2

noun

plural of hold
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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

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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
Chef Yannick Lohou, fresh from Barcelona, holds the dining room spellbound with pretty-as-a-picture dishes such as toro tartare with caviar. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 The analogy holds, except that your boat has grown an engine, and the engine upgrades compound every few months. Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The 33-year-old holds a $12 million player option for 2027, which Holmes will likely decline to pursue a multi-year contract in free agency. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The band also holds the record for the most tickets sold for a show at the venue, per the release. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 According to Worldpay’s 2026 Global Payments Report, cash still holds 42% of point-of-sale payments in the Philippines, despite the rising popularity of e-wallets like GCash. Angelica Ang, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 There’s a quiet to that space, too, that really holds them in a nice way. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Wiederaenders holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 The third Spaniard in a row to win cycling’s premier event, Sastre holds his 65-second lead over Cadel Evans of Australia. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Noun
In order to prep for the intensive shoot, the actors spent two weeks treading water, doing breath holds and training with real kayaks. Matt Minton, Variety, 31 July 2026 Traveling down conveyor belts, bumping around on baggage carts and in cargo holds, suitcases quickly pick up scuffs that can be hard to remove. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026 Wilson’s edition accounts for 90% of print holds and 57% of ebook and audiobook holds in the NYPL system, which is one of the largest in the country. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 July 2026 As long as $120 holds, the pattern of higher lows stays intact. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 16 July 2026 More than 800 existing holds for Chromebooks and hotspots will be canceled when the program officially concludes later this month. Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 12 July 2026 Anyone who was penalized for not paying their taxes or for filing late tax returns during the disaster declaration period plus 60 days may be eligible for potential refunds or abatements if the judge’s ruling holds. Connor Greene, Time, 8 July 2026 Each class features Primary Posture and a combination of dynamic stretching, isometric movements (like holds and pulses), and cardio bursts. Hannah Harper, Health, 1 July 2026 Google is marketing its AI products directly into the window where an immunity from AI overviews in search holds, which suggests the company could see more value in being seen helping with this World Cup than in fully automating it away just yet. Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
  • 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
  • Your makeup will only look as good as your base, and the hydrating formula leaves a beautiful, glowy canvas that grips onto foundation and prevents makeup from settling into fine lines.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • These vital data pipelines, owned and operated by Silicon Valley tech giants, account for 70 % of usable undersea cables in 2026, yet Washington retains the right to restrict where these networks go and who has access.
    Alex Capri, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The woody, cracked texture is more prominent, the tree trunk retains a much crisper, rugged look, and the colors are more vivid.
    Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Crystal hates that shows drop an entire season on release day, and thinks streaming has eroded the monoculture that used to propel powerful franchises to billion-dollar heights.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Like Kaiser, Dendy thinks that Americans on either side of politics are coming to the same conclusion from different routes.
    T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • The 25,000-square-foot facility contains a vertical test section measuring 20 feet in diameter and 24 feet tall.
    Amy Galo, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The partnership also contains an unusual provision connected to a potential public offering.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ryan Hawk is the host of The Learning Leader Show, which is regularly ranked among the top business podcasts in the world and has millions of listeners annually.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Aug. 2026
  • My mom has great style year round, but the fall is when her wardrobe really shines.
    Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Chris Elford, who owns a brewery and a cocktail bar downtown, has a lot of regulars who work at Seattle tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Elon Musk himself, one man, owns more wealth by far than the bottom half of American households.
    NBC news, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The mid-sized 737-8 carries 160 to 180 passengers across a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km), whereas the larger 737-9 accommodates 175 to 195 passengers with a maximum range of 3,300 nautical miles (6,110 km).
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
  • People like them want to work, but finding a job that safely accommodates their disease management is easier said than done, Schroer said.
    Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Real thinking — the kind that understands a question, grasps its context and goes out to gather information before formulating a response.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • His eyes and smile are too wide, and his right hand grasps the air.
    Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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