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
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Recent Examples of holds out
Wilson holds out hope that federal lawmakers will amend their law to allow hemp sales to continue, though any such change faces an uphill battle.
—
Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Upon arrival, a staffer holds out a tray of tropical popsicles as a first touch of hospitality.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Or Gonzalez fully holds out and risks fines.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
No matter how many shows you guys do, his voice just holds out.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026
The owner who holds out for yesterday’s pricing can discover that extended vacancy carries a cost that is far greater than a small concession would have been.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The gamble that Dallas plays in this instance is if Pickens holds out from voluntary and mandatory offseason activities until a long-term deal is worked out.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
But seemingly by sheer willpower, Meredith holds out her hand, which sends the liquid back in the opposite direction toward Britani.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Here’s hoping the good weather holds out for at least a few more weeks.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Upon arrival, a staffer holds out a tray of tropical popsicles as a first touch of hospitality.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Or Gonzalez fully holds out and risks fines.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
No matter how many shows you guys do, his voice just holds out.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026
The owner who holds out for yesterday’s pricing can discover that extended vacancy carries a cost that is far greater than a small concession would have been.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The gamble that Dallas plays in this instance is if Pickens holds out from voluntary and mandatory offseason activities until a long-term deal is worked out.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
But seemingly by sheer willpower, Meredith holds out her hand, which sends the liquid back in the opposite direction toward Britani.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Here’s hoping the good weather holds out for at least a few more weeks.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds out
Verb
-
What kind of web survives the transition The technical question of how AI reads the web is also turning into a question about how the web works when AI is one of its main readers.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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But the best wellness experiences leave something behind that survives re-entry.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
7 June 2026
Verb
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That's because the virus changes year-to-year and protection only lasts around six months.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
10 June 2026
-
No avocado lasts longer than three days.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Numerous Democratic lawmakers have vowed to investigate matters relating to Paramount and Trump if their party prevails in the midterm elections.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
-
Practicality prevails once again.—
Sable Yong,
Allure,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
McDowell isn’t convinced the comparison holds up.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
-
That show really holds up, though.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20out. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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