Synonyms of hold
-
as in to grip 
-
as in to keep
-
as in to think
-
as in to contain
-
as in to have
-
as in to retain
-
as in to accommodate
-
as in to grasp
-
as in to consider
-
as in to regulate
-
as in to aim
-
as in grip
-
as in stronghold
-
as in sway
-
as in contact
-
as in jail
-
as in understanding
-
as in imprisonment
-
Synonym Chooser
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
Related Articles
1
as in to grip
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 to keep
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 to think
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 to have
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 to retain
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 to grasp
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 to regulate
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 to aim
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 grip
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 stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sway
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 contact
the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation
I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in jail
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
6
as in understanding
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
7
as in imprisonment
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 hold
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Shania Russell, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some versions of the tale hold that the song's name came from a stripper Roth knew.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Shildt pointed out that the Padres had held a lead past the fifth inning just twice in the last 10 games — and that the team had won both of those games.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
But those plans were scrapped after the Disney-Fox merger, when Marvel put mutants on hold and turned its attention to expanding its interconnected multiverse of movies and TV shows.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some versions of the tale hold that the song's name came from a stripper Roth knew.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
-
The Marswalker has rugged wheels in each corner for gripping the steps, as well as a long antenna to sense angles and heights.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The need for such shelters came into sharp focus in January 2025, when prolonged periods of frigid winter weather gripped Louisville.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hospitality starts well before check-in with the concierge team, who keep a detailed portfolio of repeat patrons and their preferences, ranging from foods to rooms.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Lifestyle habit such as exercise and a healthy diet can help keep inflammation in check.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Shoddy-Mushroom-8456/Shoddy-Mushroom-8456 Others thought Bella could be a Goldador—a popular cross between a golden retriever and a Labrador retriever, combining the traits of both breeds.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Treasure & Bond Puff-Sleeve Sweatshirt And don’t think for a second that puff-sleeves are only for fancy occasions!—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement The panel has already obtained roughly 33,000 pages of records from the Justice Department, though Democrats have complained those disclosures contained little new information.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Eventually, the Nepali army was deployed to contain the situation.—
Rajeev Tyagi,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even though Josh and Arteta have a good relationship, stemming back to when Arteta played for the club, Lewis is the conduit between the club and ownership.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The product launches demonstrate how Europe’s legacy manufacturers are taking the fight to their Chinese rivals, in a bid to both retain market share in the European Union and offset declining sales in China, the world’s largest car market.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
While most wellness apps retain just 3–4% of users after a month (30% for human coaches), Wellness Coach keeps 87% engaged.—
Gil Press,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bayrou had argued that young people in France are being burdened with years of debt to accommodate boomers.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The Lovevook Tote features a padded laptop compartment and multiple interior pockets, accommodating everything from a wallet to lip gloss.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For investors who grasp this shift early, the rewards could be transformative.—
Alexandre de Vigan,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
From high-stakes official visits to personal trips, understanding where leaders go, and why, is crucial to grasping the evolving landscape of international diplomacy.—
Collin J. Meisel,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share