as in survives
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds out
Verb
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Annette Gordon-Reed’s The Hemingses of Monticello (2008) made Sally Hemings, from whom not a word survives, a figure crucial to understanding the workings of power in the early American republic.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025 -
Apart from the rare individual that survives and develops immunity, symptomatic deer will succumb to EHD within 36 hours.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The streamer has a free trial available, which only lasts for five days, but that’s more than enough time to watch the NFL game.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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Unlike earlier prototypes, which often relied on toxic or unstable light absorbers, the new biohybrid design avoids toxic semiconductors, lasts longer, and can run without additional chemicals that previously hindered efficiency, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Miami prevails in a tight one behind a late defensive stop by Rueben Bain.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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If the case reaches sentencing, a death verdict must be unanimous; a single juror's vote for life prevails.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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New to the service this month is the excellent 1983 adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, a masterpiece of all-ages horror that still holds up today.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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Whole milk comes out thick and lush, like the classic cappuccino topping, while oat milk holds up surprisingly well, too—creamy and stable instead of watery.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Holds out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20out. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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