as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 out
The pass rusher is coming off a season with the Jets in which he was traded from the Eagles last March and held out for the first seven weeks of last season.
—
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
Shemar Moore is holding out hope for the future of S.W.A.T.
Hours after news broke that the CBS series was canceled for the third time on Thursday, March 6, the show’s star spoke out in a video posted on Instagram.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Sharks forward Luke Kunin, another pending UFA, is reportedly being held out of the team’s lineup on Thursday for roster management purposes.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
Ohio dealer Rhett Ricart, who sells GM and Ford vehicles among other brands, held out hope for a quick deal to avert a crisis.
—Nora Eckert, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
Shemar Moore is holding out hope for the future of S.W.A.T.
Hours after news broke that the CBS series was canceled for the third time on Thursday, March 6, the show’s star spoke out in a video posted on Instagram.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Sharks forward Luke Kunin, another pending UFA, is reportedly being held out of the team’s lineup on Thursday for roster management purposes.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
Ohio dealer Rhett Ricart, who sells GM and Ford vehicles among other brands, held out hope for a quick deal to avert a crisis.
—Nora Eckert, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold out
Verb
-
Preserved pollen grains and other spores told them about the diversity of plant life in the refugium, something like an oasis where there is food and water available, and environmental conditions are moderate enough to keep organisms surviving through natural disasters and other adverse conditions.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
Ars Technica,
18 Mar. 2025
-
While the pandemic created a boom of direct-to-consumer brands that struggled to survive post-COVID, Almada has not only endured but flourished in the changing e-commerce landscape.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Whether painted, re-printed, or scanned, there are endless ways to take the words and handwriting on the card and turn them into something long lasting.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Negotiations were supposed to begin in early February on the next phase of the truce, in which Hamas was called to free the remaining 59 hostages — including 35 who are believed to be dead — in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Pod Save America's Jon Lovett welcomed Bill Maher, who challenged the left's prevailing support for transgender rights and gender-affirming care.—
Zachary Basu,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Cool conditions are forecast to prevail through Sunday.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20out. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share