HOLDS Synonyms: 412 Similar and Opposite Words

holds 1 of 2

verb

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

The community decides whether the creator’s recommendation holds any weight. — Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The episode begins by delving into how the Manhunter holds so much sway over the people of Rushville. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao holds its first parliamentary elections, a landmark vote in the Muslim-majority south after decades of insurgency, violence and a long struggle for self-rule. — Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The show, to take place at the Palais d’Iena in Paris — where Miu Miu traditionally holds its runway shows — will bring together film, photography, sculpture, poetry, dance, music and performance across four spaces, the brand said in a statement. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Alex Gibney’s film, which runs 3 hours and 45 minutes with a 10-minute intermission, holds its North American premiere later Monday at the Toronto Film Festival. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 The more surprising outcome could be if the central bank holds rates steady. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 However, pre-clinical research (not in humans) suggests the peptide holds promise beyond skin health. — Will Stone, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026 Sonko, who now holds the influential role of parliamentary speaker, recently softened his stance on debt restructuring. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Noun

But then Jović won a quick service game, a rarity in a match with more breaks than holds. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The second of those holds negated a first down and eventually forced them to punt. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 The holds came as three patients in Novartis trials of the CAR-T rap-cel died from a dangerous immune system reaction, Endpoints adds. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday struck down one of those holds. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 If the direction of travel holds, the marginal buyer of gold for the next ten years is somebody who doesn't care about the price and isn't going to sell. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 According to the latest Bloomberg data, the stock has the equivalent of 70 buy ratings, eight holds and no sells. — Jay Woods, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Exercises such as hollow holds, dead bugs, and glute bridges engage your deep core and can be done from bed. — Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 18 Aug. 2026 The diagnosis was the beginning of a run of hospitalizations and mental health holds. — Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds

Verb

The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of grips

Verb

The bill, to its credit, contains a lot of admirable protections for athletes, most notably a 5 percent cap on agents’ commissions on NIL deals.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Thanks to the single-floor layout of the tiny house, this has ample headroom to stand upright and contains a double bed and some storage.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

Belarus still has 912 political prisoners, including 20 journalists, according to the Viasna human rights center.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
There are 795 rooms here, including 58 suites, and every one of them has a private lanai (a Hawaiian balcony or veranda) with either a garden or an ocean view.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of has

Verb

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, and the railroad is a fierce critic of Vena’s takeover bid for Norfolk Southern.

— John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Eventually, Tyler contacted a friend who owns D&D Bait Shop nearby, where the fish could spend the night in a larger tank with a better aeration system.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of owns

Verb

Its flexible modular design accommodates up to 1,000 kilometers of range and adapts easily to both charging and battery swapping.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
This compact design even has a pop-up table, while this clever 2-in-1 sofa bed effortlessly accommodates overnight guests.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of accommodates

Verb

Only truly sophisticated taste, in this code, grasps the superiority of deprivation over the more ethnic notions of actual comfort and good food.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Clients are looking for a partner who grasps their objectives, assists with key financial choices, and adapts alongside them as their circumstances shift, said Scott Stearsman, head of Premier and branch banking at Truist.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026