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
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025
The starting rotation hasn’t been pushed exceptionally hard, in part because the bullpen has been extra-reliable, pitching the sixth-most innings and still holding a 2.98 ERA.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 15 May 2025
Last month, the SEC put its civil case against Binance on hold for at least 60 days.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Verb
Possible funding source But whatever the cost, the city has a source of cash to make the lease payments: $14 million that is yet to be spent on the $16 million project approved last fall to build holding cells on the top floor of Police Headquarters, Finance Director Tammy Queen said.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025
The starting rotation hasn’t been pushed exceptionally hard, in part because the bullpen has been extra-reliable, pitching the sixth-most innings and still holding a 2.98 ERA.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025
Noun
Small scalloped hyacinth baskets ($49) keep hold of some of her favorite things.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 15 May 2025
Last month, the SEC put its civil case against Binance on hold for at least 60 days.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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These angular hooks are especially useful for gripping onto bathroom towels or kitchen rags.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2025
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Season 2 of The Last Of Us has been a bit of a mixed bag so far, with some really gripping moments and some odd choices that got the season off to a wobbly start.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Verb
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At the exhibition, Ferraz encouraged the students to keep making art.—
Clara-Sophia Daly,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2025
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According to the organization's website, anyone living near bears should never feed the animals, keep garbage, food and livestock secure, and be aware of their surrounding while walking dogs.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Verb
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But, not surprisingly, what gamblers think and what 133 cardinals decide can be completely different.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Deborah is thinking of Ava but can’t bring herself to say it.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The fire crew managed to contain the fire entirely as of Tuesday evening.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2025
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But after it was shown to studio executives at British television channel ITV in 1983, the film canisters containing the pilot episode disappeared into the archives.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The southeast counties of Miami-Dade and Broward had the highest number of outages at over 3,000, according to the tracking website.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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The left edge is devoid of buttons, while the top has a couple of microphone holes.—
Iyaz Akhtar,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Plummer, who joined the team under similar circumstances last year, will need to hold off Garbers to retain the role beyond training camp.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2025
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While the crowds swell in July and August, Cádiz manages to retain its seductive mix of grandeur and grit year-round.—
Christopher Bagley,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
Verb
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High ceilings will accommodate the potential use of aerial drones, and the flooring will be treated with Electrostatic Discharge protection to prevent harmful static buildup between sensitive electronics and robots.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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Instead of buying an ebike and having to charge its battery at home or carry a charger around to top-up at an accommodating cafe, Yamaha set up ENYRING to offer a battery swap alternative.—
Paul Ridden
May 16,
New Atlas,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Visual communication Your ability to present information through charts, graphs, and other visual elements helps audiences grasp complex concepts quickly.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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Likewise, most users probably won't grasp the details of the information displayed on the Device Security page.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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