Synonyms of hold
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as in to grip 
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as in to keep
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as in to think
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as in to contain
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as in to have
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as in to retain
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as in to accommodate
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as in to grasp
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as in to consider
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as in to regulate
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as in to aim
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as in grip
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as in stronghold
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as in sway
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as in contact
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as in jail
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as in understanding
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as in imprisonment
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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
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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
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3
as in to think
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
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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
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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
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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
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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
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11
as in to aim
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 grip
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 stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
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3
as in sway
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 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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold
Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The event, held every summer in Cincinnati and now in its 23rd year, teaches professionals and entrepreneurs how to be successful in the music industry and beyond.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 7 Aug. 2025
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
SpaceX launches 2 groups of astronauts to space station on Falcon 9
Just because Starship operations have been on hold doesn't mean SpaceX hasn't been busy with other rocket launches.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
What had happened, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, was that a man named Jalen Welch, 25, walked into the argument holding a pistol in a threatening manner and approached the shooter, described as a man from Oak Park.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The event, held every summer in Cincinnati and now in its 23rd year, teaches professionals and entrepreneurs how to be successful in the music industry and beyond.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
The film, which will be released in theaters on Oct. 24, 2025, stars Allison Williams as Morgan Grant, a young mother who puts her ambitions on hold to raise her teenage daughter, Clara, played by McKenna Grace.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
SpaceX launches 2 groups of astronauts to space station on Falcon 9
Just because Starship operations have been on hold doesn't mean SpaceX hasn't been busy with other rocket launches.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The narrative explores the devastating impact of family secrets and fractured loyalties, while building toward a gripping conclusion that ties together the personal and political threads—yet leaves room for lingering questions.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
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The result is a gripping vérité portrait of citizens under siege by a tyrannical leader stripping away their freedoms.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Federal Circuit stayed that order, keeping duties in place pending appeal.—
Brian Delp,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The online Monopoly game features a jackpot prize that begins at $150,000 and keeps growing until there is a winner.—
Mike Stunson,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Not bad for a guy who left his manager thinking an early shower might be in order.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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The students would read the plans for the day, write a positive affirmation, think and then had time to discuss with each other for three minutes before class began.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Tapioca pearls often contain a fiber called guar gum.—
Samantha Lauriello,
Health,
6 Aug. 2025
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This helical strand of molecules allows for information contained in DNA in the nucleus of cells to be delivered to ribosomes where protein synthesis can occur.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Rapids, who sat in 10th when Mihailovic departed, have seven games to go in the regular season.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
17 Aug. 2025
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Padres relievers had the better game, but the Kershaw-Vásquez result was a two-run deficit.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The company helps organizations recruit and retain board-level, C-suite, and senior executive talent.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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This passage of play would not be unusual under Postecoglou, indicating Frank’s willingness to retain some of the good habits and passages the Australian built during his two-year spell in north London.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The result is an infrastructure network that's not just reactive, but resilient—designed to accommodate diverse user needs and reduce grid strain during peak demand.—
Bryan Mistele,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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The central lawn was one of the most notable features of President John F. Kennedy's iconic Rose Garden redesign in the early 1960s, which allowed room to accommodate more high-profile events by moving the flowers, shrubs and trees to the perimeter of the space.—
Kyler Alvord,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Nina, 85, was exhausted in the 35 degree Celsius (95 degree Fahrenheit) heat, grasping her crutch, already separated from her bags by rescuers.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Challenge Of Scaling Manufacturing The massive scale of the energy industry can be challenging to grasp.—
Matthew Dawson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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