handhold

noun

hand·​hold ˈhand-ˌhōld How to pronounce handhold (audio)
1
: hold, grip
2
: something to hold on to (as in mountain climbing)

Examples of handhold in a Sentence

she tried to maintain her tight handhold on the umbrella as the wind picked up
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Bald and tired, Harley studied frantically from his hospital bed, clinging to schoolwork as a handhold on life. Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 8 Dec. 2024 Joyce provides no handholds for where to pause, where to make the turns or construct the sense, and Hoffman and Collins together have done the meticulous work of scoring every tiny twist and loop of thought. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 June 2024 On top of that, the early space capsules lacked handholds and footholds on the outside, which made maneuvering extremely strenuous. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2024 There’s also a convenient handhold molded into the rubber strip across the tailgate’s top. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 22 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for handhold 

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of handhold was in 1643

Dictionary Entries Near handhold

Cite this Entry

“Handhold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handhold. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!