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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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
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The 98th Academy Awards will be held Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where Hollywood’s biggest names will celebrate the best films of the year for a final time.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Kuwait’s airspace has been closed, and commercial flights are on hold.
—Connor Greene, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
James held the previous Heat record for the highest scoring quarter in franchise history, scoring 25 points in a third quarter on March 3, 2014 and 25 points in a first quarter on March 18, 2014.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The 98th Academy Awards will be held Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where Hollywood’s biggest names will celebrate the best films of the year for a final time.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
In 2008, Spears was placed in a conservatorship after her father petitioned a California court for authority over his daughter’s life and finances, citing her public mental health struggles, possible substance abuse and a psychiatric hold.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Kuwait’s airspace has been closed, and commercial flights are on hold.
—Connor Greene, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The schoolchildren said they were sometimes ordered to strip to their underwear or be naked and told to squat with their arms extended, gripping heavy rocks.—
MARK BANCHEREAU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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In the video, one young man can be seen repeatedly beating an individual lying on the ground while another suspect gripped the victim’s foot, restraining him in place.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Sporting didn’t want to be chasing the ball for long stretches, and the players didn’t manage to keep possession often enough.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
8 Mar. 2026
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Gosling begins singing about the pale blue dot and his new movie — but the camera keeps panning away, selecting Harry!—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So if a person thinks about moving their hand, the device reads those brain signals and turns them into an actual movement.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Or if a military machine with someone at the top pooh-poohing ROE thinks the rules are still a top priority.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Oncor Electric is requesting that the Fort Worth City Council approve the rezoning of a southeast Fort Worth lot containing a power substation that the utility company intends to expand and renovate, documents say.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
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The religious article, called a kirpan, cannot be longer than 10 inches and must be contained in a sheath to wear in City Hall, according to the ordinance.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Carmona had six goals in 102 appearances over five seasons with the Red Bulls.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Mar. 2026
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That’s because local media campaigns that reflect different political ideologies and community priorities may have a better chance of influencing the public.—
Angela Hart,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Despite the institutional changes, the National Symphony Orchestra is retaining its decadeslong residency.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
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Sherlock is an effortless update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s seminal detective novels, one that’s brilliantly modernized while retaining all of the source material’s classical charms.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The service The staff members are hands-off but always accommodating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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It’s anticipated to run 24/7 in four car sets, two minutes apart during peak hours, and accommodate 200 passengers.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When first delivered, Valkyrie could walk on flat surfaces and perform basic actions, such as grasping and manipulating objects.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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To grasp this piece of Roman history, Yanxiao argued, one had to study the Xiongnu—and to understand the Xiongnu, one had to read Chinese.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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