1
as in grips
to have or keep in one's hands
this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retains
to continue to have in one's possession or power
she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thinks
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in has
to keep in one's mind or heart
still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in owns
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
as in grasps
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
please hold my arm on these slippery stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
10
as in regulates
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clasps
the act or manner of holding
make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strongholds
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others
the government has no hold over where we live and work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in jails
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in understandings
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in imprisonments
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 holds
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
The soap opera, or telenovela, holds cultural power like nothing else in Brazil.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
At the time of writing, The Acolyte holds a 78% critical score and an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Rwanda Among travelers, Rwanda is most famous for its mountain gorilla treks but Akagera National Park holds a different kind of adventure.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Every client interaction holds content potential.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Surface temperatures tend to cool in the winter and warm air rises, creating a lid in the atmosphere that holds pollutants below.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
While bitcoin mining holds promise, government subsidies for traditional renewable projects can distort the market.
—Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
However, the answer holds invaluable information.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
Romy holds all the cards, at least in theory.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
The soap opera, or telenovela, holds cultural power like nothing else in Brazil.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
At the time of writing, The Acolyte holds a 78% critical score and an 18% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 23 Dec. 2024
Rwanda Among travelers, Rwanda is most famous for its mountain gorilla treks but Akagera National Park holds a different kind of adventure.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Every client interaction holds content potential.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Surface temperatures tend to cool in the winter and warm air rises, creating a lid in the atmosphere that holds pollutants below.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
While bitcoin mining holds promise, government subsidies for traditional renewable projects can distort the market.
—Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
However, the answer holds invaluable information.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
-
In addition, artificial turf retains heat, often reaching temperatures of 150-180 degrees Fahrenheit on warm, sunny days.Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
-
The result is a crystal-clear Tequila that retains vanilla and caramel notes typically found in aged Tequilas.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The guess here is that this will all unravel much faster than anyone currently thinks, leaving the country, and its new government, adrift and voters counting the days to the midterm elections.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Prasad, for instance, thinks there’s a kind of egalitarianism that’s inherent in English and missing from its Indian alternatives.Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Lively’s lawsuit contains several serious allegations against Justin Baldoni.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Renowned visionary English physician William Harvey wrote in 1651 about how our blood contains all the secrets of life.Dr. Marc Siegel Fox News, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The master plan accommodates for a one meter rise in sea level over the next hundred years, which led to the building-on-stilts design of the main residential building.Amy Rose Dobson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
-
The facility accommodates male and female inmates across various security levels and primarily houses those awaiting trial, as well as some inmates serving short sentences.Erin Keller, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Soaring crime Meanwhile, there’s no sign that Thao grasps the full significance of, and economic fallout from, the city’s crime, which surged last year to levels far higher than at any time in the past two decades.East Bay Times editorial, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024
-
In strategic communication, repeating core elements ensures your audience grasps the essence of your message.Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
The Philippines considers karaoke a national pastime, and the people around you are constantly crooning into their Magic Sing microphones or portable karaoke machines.Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
-
Scott, who considers Stiller both his boss and a friend, justified the show’s painstaking development process as necessary for quality control.Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Like other Gazans, many Christians in the enclave say their lives have long been overshadowed by a cycle of wars with Israel and an Israeli-Egyptian blockade that tightly regulates travel and commerce.Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
-
The Federal Aviation Administration regulates drones and light shows and permitted the Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola on Saturday.Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Hezbollah’s role as chief deterrent to Israel for Iran, however, now seems to feature little in Israeli calculations, after continued pummeling of Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024
-
The fall of Homs gave insurgents control over Syria's strategic heartland and key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from Assad's coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, home to Russian military bases.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near holds
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share