1
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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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
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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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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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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
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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
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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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11
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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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
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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
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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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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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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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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
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
If Villegas’ lead holds, national Democrats are expected to quickly rally behind the progressive candidate as the 22nd District is viewed as critical to the party’s efforts to reclaim control of the House.
—Mathew Miranda
june 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Gómez has two holds, a save and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Twins.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ask your plan administrator about distribution holds.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 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
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
If Villegas’ lead holds, national Democrats are expected to quickly rally behind the progressive candidate as the 22nd District is viewed as critical to the party’s efforts to reclaim control of the House.
—Mathew Miranda
june 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Gómez has two holds, a save and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Twins.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ask your plan administrator about distribution holds.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
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.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
In one example, the robot grips a can sideways, a simple mistake that could lead to spills, showing that human-like understanding remains limited.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But if that data still retains commercial, legal or reputational value even when cryptographic protection fails, the exposure has already occurred.—
Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
The new executive order retains the voluntary nature of AI developers reporting potential safety risks.—
Anjana Susarla,
The Conversation,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The surest sign of improving standards in Ghana and other African countries, Hughton thinks, will be when diaspora players born elsewhere in the world opt to follow their roots.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
So everyone thinks the world is falling apart.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
It is widely accepted that a teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and one billion bacteria, thus the name and rallying cry of the Forum.—
Louise Schiavone,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The final film contains 82 minutes of score.—
Jon Burlingame,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The populist Swiss People’s Party, which has the most seats in parliament, has stirred up and fostered anti-migration sentiment over the years, notably about an influx of workers from European Union nations.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
In fact, their entire relationship has an eerie, performative aura.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Gillette Stadium, which Kraft financed and owns, was awarded seven World Cup matches.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
The British-Australian mining giant owns 66% of the mine, with the Mongolian government holding the other 34%.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
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.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
-
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.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
-
But Zou’s cinema grasps that unideal truths often can be concealed underneath beautiful surfaces.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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