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"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
The Entertainment Business Center in Tokyo manages more than 100 brand-IP collaborations annually and holds investment positions in more than 60 anime titles.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
The United States holds much leverage over how these reforms could go, not just due to the embargo but also to a recent executive order that allows the administration to sanction foreign companies doing business with Cuba, which has caused several to leave the island.
—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Those are allegations and a short-seller's claim, not findings; Culper holds a position that profits if Nvidia's shares fall, which colours its analysis and should be weighed accordingly.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
When the waterway reopens today — assuming the US-Iran deal holds — many will exhale and celebrate the crisis’ end.
—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
19 June 2026
Israel now holds 234 square miles in Lebanon, according to experts with the Carnegie Middle East Center.
—
Melanie Lidman,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Musk also holds roughly 85% of shareholder voting power.
—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
12 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
An individual holds a handful of hail pellets in Waite Park, Minnesota, after storms rolled through on June 19, 2026.
—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
The Entertainment Business Center in Tokyo manages more than 100 brand-IP collaborations annually and holds investment positions in more than 60 anime titles.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
The United States holds much leverage over how these reforms could go, not just due to the embargo but also to a recent executive order that allows the administration to sanction foreign companies doing business with Cuba, which has caused several to leave the island.
—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Those are allegations and a short-seller's claim, not findings; Culper holds a position that profits if Nvidia's shares fall, which colours its analysis and should be weighed accordingly.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
When the waterway reopens today — assuming the US-Iran deal holds — many will exhale and celebrate the crisis’ end.
—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
19 June 2026
Israel now holds 234 square miles in Lebanon, according to experts with the Carnegie Middle East Center.
—
Melanie Lidman,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Musk also holds roughly 85% of shareholder voting power.
—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
12 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
-
Musk retains the power to elect and remove the directors his share class appoints.
-
American military strikes in June 2025 reduced several Iranian nuclear facilities to rubble, but Iran still retains roughly 400 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium.
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
-
Bar soap contains fatty acids that react with certain minerals, especially those in hard water.
-
The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from June 7-13 and 98 inspections.
Verb
-
Conley also has the most campaign cash, with $940,000 on hand.
-
Walking into a recording studio, Swift was seen clutching a cognac shoulder bag, and this leather version from Quince comes in the same color and has a similar silhouette.
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
-
An upper floor was added in 2014 and accommodates a gourmet food court showcasing the best of Tuscan cuisine alongside chic wine and coffee bars.
-
At the helm, bucket seats reinforce the high- performance feel, while the cockpit accommodates up to 12 guests, with a central dining area, twin aft sunpads, and a larger sunpad forward.
Verb
-
There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it.
-
But Zou’s cinema grasps that unideal truths often can be concealed underneath beautiful surfaces.
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
